Reading Response 10/1

I felt as though the section from the reading most pertinent to me was finding a speaker for the event. As I research I should keep in mind that just because they've done impressive things, doesn't mean they are a great speaker or someone to really set a positive mood for the the event. I need to try to find interviews or videos of them speaking to get a sense of their personality, and what they can bring to the table. As the reading says, "THIS IS OUR EVENT," so we need to set our agenda and develop a firm and specific rubric for which I can evaluate candidates on. I also need to look at the potential speakers through the eyes of the audience and determine who they would want to see.

This weeks Schedule

Update 30 contacts (1-2 hours)
Find Films and papers to send invitationals to (Indeterminate)
Research Keynote Speaker and prepare presentation (4+ hours over the course of the week)

Small Projects Questions

Researching Keynote Speakers

What is the project supposed to achieve?
The projects should help us set a tone for Visions4 and find a person who will aid us in doing so. 

Are the results straight-forward?
The results are pretty straigh-forward. I need to find someone who satisfies the attributes we as a class discuss. 

Are deliverables easily measured?
Deliverables will be measured by how satisfied the class is with my findings.

How much effort is required?
A lot of diligent research and a dedication to finding the perfect match for this year's Visions is required. 

How many people or skills are needed?
For the most part one person and the ability to search the depths of the internet. 

How complex is the project?
The project will become more complex once we begin to decide what it is that we want. Once we narrow down the field, then things will begin to get harder - but also more interesting. 

Researching Invitationals and Updating the Contact List
What is the project supposed to achieve?
The project should help us become more organized as we grow closer to call for submissions. 

Are the results straight-forward?
The results are straight forward because they are necessary for ensuring this year's Visions gets quality programming. It is a "you do it or you don't" project for the most part. 

Are deliverables easily measured?
Deliverables are pretty easily measured. Deliverables will be measured by how accurate the information we end up with is.

How much effort is required? 
A good amount of effort is required. We need quality and thorough research. It will take a good amount of time and commitment to accomplish the project's goal. 

How many people or skills are needed?
Basically we need the three of us to do our part in researching current contacts and finding new ones. 

How complex is the project?
This part of the project is not that complex, it's mainly tedious. 

Interview with Chris Boeckmann

1. How many entries did they get this year? For films make sure to ask them to distinguish between features and shorts.

They get a little over 1,000 submissions a year (41% shorts 59% features)

2. How many films do they aim to screen each year? How many papers/presentations do they accept?

They play about 36 features and 25 shorts.

(In place of presentations I asked how they come with discussion panels.)

Usually do it towards the end if they see trends among films or they’ve had critics panels discuss the art of critiquing non-fiction cinema.

3. What is their pre-screening process?

They receive online films and bring in people from the community to help judge.

4. How many pre-screeners do they have each year?

12 or 13

5. Who is typically chosen as a pre-screener?

They usually choose trusted members of the community that they get together with on Thurdays and watch and discuss a film.

6. How do they score entries? Do they use a scoring template/rubric? Are there scoring guidelines?

On a 0.0 to 10.0 scale. Their template is that 7.0 requires a second viewing, and 8.0 and up typically gets featured.

7. Do you have a jury after the pre-screening process has ended?

Usually it’s based on the the scores they give the films and if receives a mean of 7.0 they will have a second viewing and discuss.  They also have discussions around the office.

8. How far in advance do they send out their call for entries? How do entries typically roll in? Early?

Late? In waves?

May if he’s on top of things, June or July if he “procrastinates.” They usually roll in at steady numbers  for each of the deadlines. However, the highest quality films typically come at the end because it coincides with Sundance.

9. How many paid employees do they have each year? How many volunteers?

They have 6 full time paid employees and 20 to 30 part time employees or employees that receive some pay. They typically receive 1,000 applications to volunteer and take on around 900 volunteers.

10. Do you use specific programming, trafficking, budgeting software? Do you like it?

He does not like Without a Box (did not want that published anywhere that would get attention). Likes to use Fest Maker for submissions, and Do-Gooder (the volunteers use that for scheduling etc. he didn’t know as much about that. The accountant uses Quick Books.

11. What community outreach do you do outside of your festival season to keep your event on the

public's radar and/or to raise funds? (Workshops, mini-festivals, fundraiser dinners, etc.)

They have an annual screen (5^th year) at a Winery in Rocheport, MO. They also partner with the University a lot. A lot of community support, he says.

12. Do you give out swag bags to visiting filmmakers? Presenters? Guests? If so, what type of items

do you include in those bags?

“BBQ Sauce, Food Vouchers, and a Hoodie,” he joked. Typically they have “strange things” from the sponsors - which change from year to year (hence the BBQ Sauce). They always give out a filmmaker hoodie that people can wear when they go to other festivals to catch up with other people who were at the event and also to promote the festival.

13. Do presenter/filmmaker pay registration to attend?

None aside from the cost to enter.

14. Are you able to provide presenters/filmmakers with funds to cover travel or lodging?

Yes, although they had issues with having to shuttle people in because one of the hotels they use was undergoing renovations.

15. What "perks" do your filmmakers/scholars enjoy at your festival/conference? What else do you

encourage them to do while they're in town? (Free dinners, tours, exclusive activities…in Wilm,

we'd try to take them to the beach, Screen Gems tour, etc.)

They try to make everything free –food vouchers. The festival occurs in their downtown so they try to keep the filmmakers in close proximity to the downtown so they can enjoy that culture. Everything is within walking distance.

16. Do you have special donor perks during the event? Or how do you thank them?

They typically rely on ticket sales and Sponsors. Donors do not play as big of a part.

17. What do they wish they had done differently or better when they were first starting out? What do

you wish you knew then that you know now?

The people who started the event made a lot of great decisions. He didn’t want to speak on their behalf since he was fifteen at the beginning of the festival. They enforce a rule that a filmmakers film will NOT be played if they do not attend the screening, which he felt was very smart. They keep all of the filmmakers in the downtown area so they can walk about freely, experience the city, and get to know each other.

18. If it’s a festival or conference that no longer is in existence…why did it end?

N/A

19. Any other ideas or advice that we haven’t thought to ask about?

He says that they do not give out Awards, promoting film viewing rather than competition. They also try to have music before each screening to try to make the film feel like an event – although, he warns to make sure you pick music that people will respond well too. 



My take: I liked that he said no to awards. We kind of do that because our awards and presentation of awards is fun and superlative like. We manage to inspire competition but we make sure to make everyone feel very wanted and valued. I also liked how involved the community is. 900 volunteers and many of the screeners are people that from the community whom they watch films with when they aren't jurying. It kind of creates fresh eyes that are looking at films rather than people thinking about how a film will help the festival. 

Quiz on Festivals

I loved seeing that there was a place for screenwriters in both the Ivy and Austin Film Festivals. I also thought it was interesting to not that undergrad festivals and smaller budget festivals held there on against the festivals that had sponsors in the 10s of thousands of dollars. They may not looks a sleek when you visit the website but there is a cinephilia there that transcends budget restraints with each festival. I also liked the southern aspect of Indie Grits - and the catchy title.

From my research and others, I have learned that perks for the sponsors are key. I think that we should maybe give out coupons for sponsors, assuming they allow it, or somehow let them peddle their products. That would give our festival a professional look - look these people think we are important enough (which we totally are) to believe we would create a significant enough demand for them to tap into our market. It  would also spark interest in sponsors, who like all businesses are opportunists.

True/False Film Fest!

The basics:

http://truefalse.org/about/welcome

Who started it and who runs it:

It was created by Paul Sturtz and David Wilson. Jeremy Brown is the Managing Director and Business Manager.

The Mission:

“The True/False Film Fest exists to champion the best new nonfiction filmmaking. Our goal is to promote art, dialogue and deepen our community’s understanding of each other and the world at large. We do not select film primarily for their topic, nor do we advocate for or against the subject matter of our films. Rather, we hope to present a program that, in totality, challenges viewers to think critically about both the content of the films and their own assumptions.”

I liked the last sentence of this mission statement, I think that Visions should include something in ours about creating an open-minded undergrad film festival that allows fresh, new and still-studying filmmakers to present films that challenge and inspire other filmmakers. The films shown at Visions embody the future of film as they come from the newest generation of filmmakers.

How does the mission statement compare to films shown?

The festival shows non-fiction films on topics ranging from politics to personal peeks into people’s lives….

Where is the event?

Columbia, MO

When?

Feb. 27^th through March 2^nd

How do you submit?

Via Without a Box or snail mail

When are deadlines?

Early- August 7^th

Regular - September 25^th

Late – November 6^th

Without a box extended deadline – November 13^th

Cost:

Early: Features $25 Shorts $15

Regular: Features: $30 Shorts: $20

Late: Features: $50 Shorts: $30

Without a Box extended Deadline:  Features: $60 Shorts: $40

Who’s eligible to enter and what are the guidelines:

“The True/False film fest is open to all works of non-fiction cinema. We also encourage chimeric works that straddle the line between non-fiction and fiction.”

Is there a student Category?

No student category, but it is open to any work of non-fiction – so presumably, a student could enter with the same chance of being featured.

Formats for Jurying:

DVD (NTSC) for hard copies and Vimeo, Without a Box

Exhibition Formats:

HDCAM

How many Films screened last year?

40 films, 16 shorts

How long is a typical shorts block or paper presentation?

75 to 80 minutes

How many screened per block?

4-5 shorts

How many people register to attend, is there a cost?

4,200 the first year and 43,762 this past year.

Passes range from $700 to $25; $300 dollars of the most expensive pass is considered a charity donation to the festival (tax deductible) The cheapest is an entry fee to a 5k which enters you to win a lux pass for the following year and gives you a $5 ticket to screen the True Life Fund Film of the year.

Who Sponsors:

The local hero section seemed to the primary section that would be pertinent to Visions. It’s the 2,000 sponsorship and features Cinema St. Louis. Businesses seem to be the primary sponsors of this festival with over 40 in the local hero section alone. When going through it, my primary thought was Fuzzy Peach. Hospitality could potentially see if the Fuzzy Peach or place like them would like to sponsor the festival and possibly offer refreshments. The Hallmark Channel was a Super Sponsor, which is clearly not someone we could potentially target. Have we ever tried to get PBS’s attention? Also I was thinking we could potentially give out coupons in gift bags for sponsors... not sure if this has been done in the past. 

Sponsorship levels:

Super sponsors (25,000): On screen bumpers played before every film, posters, recognition with link to site in newsletters, print ads in Columbia Daily Tribune, print ads in Inside Columbia,  radio spots, television spots, stage mentions, link to website on True/False.org, opportunity to distribute promotional products, Ad in T/F program, 12 lux pass.

Silver Sponsors (15,000): print ads in Columbia Daily Tribune, print ads in Inside Columbia,  radio spots, television spots, stage mentions, link to website on True/False.org, opportunity to distribute promotional products, Ad in T/F program,8 lux pass.

Lux sponsors (10,000): opportunity to distribute promotional products, Ad in T/F program, 6 lux pass.

Simple (5,000): opportunity to distribute promotional products, Ad in T/F program, 4 lux pass.

Local Hero (2,000): opportunity to distribute promotional products, Ad in T/F program, 2 lux pass.

Customized options are available at the Super, Silver, and Lux levels.

Kickstarter or Indigogo:

No, although it is it’s 11^th year and it has grown significantly, so it may have used it if it was just now forming. 

Donors get a mention and a letter to help donors receive tax deductions.

Non Traditional:

They feature concerts, panel discussions that feature discussions that seem like conference-esque discussions.

Branching out:

It seems to primarily feature dark room run of the mill screenings. It’s a documentary film festival.

Website Layout:

Excellent,  I flew through these questions with ease because the website gets you where you want to go. Much like the Visions page now, it features drop tabs at the top that get you to the info you need.

Is the Layout Difficult:

No

Can you find the info via homepage or link on homepage:

Yes

Aesthetically what catches your eye?

White font against blue background is very easy on the eyes. It’s very simple in a positive way – never becomes overwhelming.

The primary design is featured at the top which works great because you see something aesthetically pleasing during the overview and once you get to the section you need where you will be distracted looking for that anyway, it’s gone – therefore, the site never becomes distracting.

Aesthetically what doesn’t fit in?

There’s actually nothing that “doesn’t fit in.” The sites only downfall is that it’s almost too simple to the point that it doesn’t do justice to the excitement of a film festival. However, if the primary goal is to give information this works.

Information?

The website answers every question asked except how many people attend, which is just the right amount of information. The pages are never too busy! Great wesite!

Same/Different?

I would maybe… maybe add a little more character to the site’s page, it feels a little dry. Also, if I were a sponsor I would be highly disappointed with the sponsor’s page!  However, the navigation is flawless!

In terms of our website, I think we implement a lot of the things that works for True/False already. I think we could use a darker backdrop color - I noticed that darker colors and lighter fonts were easier on the eyes- for me atleast. Also our "About" is a little too far down the page. 

Lynda.com videos on Public Speaking and Time Management

I learned where my weaknesses and strengths stood in Public Speaking. I need to learn to project and be confident in what I am saying. Often I stumble over words because I am attempting to formulate a clever way to say whatever it is I'm saying. I need to learn to keep it simple. I also need to change my body language, which is often fill with gesticulation. This distracts from what I'm saying, and comes across like I'm nervous- which I usually am. I need to identify my audience - which is this years visions class for the next several months - and figure out the best way to speak to them. My nervousness will be greatly helped by the team building exercises we have been doing. I also need to realize that no one in this class is waiting for the chance to critique me, they just want the information that I will be giving them.

With time management, I need to ensure that I'm keeping calendars and task lists because the key to time-management is planning. Google calendar will greatly help me in achieving this. Organization and learning the fundamentals of time management is key in being productive. Multi-tasking, while often necessary, can be avoided if you allot your time well. I often complain about having no free time, which is something that I could probably have if I were to plan out my week in the most effective way possible. I often embark on several projects with no future vision of how to accomplish them in mind, which leads to unnecessary setbacks. I also need to process email, rather than check it because I typically procrastinate on even getting things on my calendar. I feel as though Visions will greatly help me in both of these areas. 

What I hope to learn

Professional work environment. This is a term that can really bring a lot of stress. Given that I am graduating in December, it is a term that I will hopefully get to live in the near future. However, it's completely intimidating.. I'm hoping that I will be able to learn how to deal with a real work environment - one that's outcome doesn't simply entail the difference between an A and a B. I hope to learn how to deal with people in the community and represent the organization that backs me the way that they would like to be represented. Specifically from Visions, I hope to learn time management, (professional) communication skills, and how to develop a voice that gets me where I need to be. I also hope to learn what it is to be a part of a team, and how one interacts with that team in order to get done what they need to get done. These goals are more self-betterment, but obviously one of the main things I hope to learn from this course is how to put together a film festival or a general event.

Reading Response

Film festivals have evolved to create a great place for experimentation even within narrative films. I was interested to read about the ways in which festivals range from very specific to very broad in selection. I was most interested in Syracuse's B-Movie Film Festival. I'm obsessed with anything campy, and am very excited to there is a home for films of this nature. This gives a home to films that are aware of their kicshy quirks that might otherwise be misunderstood or face harsh criticism at other festivals. I think that's one of the most important aspects of film festivals - whereas some festivals sell out to the mainstream, the abundance of smaller film festivals offer opportunities to filmmakers who may never, or would never have their work screened at a more high profile venue.The reading on Microcinema was very poignant to  Visions as well. Shorts are a great way to demonstrate your talent with the restrictive budget most of us face. They are the films we show at our festival and they are films that often get slighted at other festivals. That is our niche-we provide a home to films that demonstrate talent but might not have the length or sleekness of the films that other festivals program. In doing this, we provide a learning experience for the filmmaker - who can experience answering questions and getting feedback in a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere - and for the audience - who can learn what questions they should be asking and how to experience a film festival.

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Bio

My name is Christian Podgaysky. I come from Lexington, NC - BBQ capital of the world, to whom it may concern. A professional retail associate and amateur writer, I'm destined for a life of minimum wage. I've always had a passion for writing and had the unique opportunity to study dramatic writing at NYU my sophomore year of high school. I currently intern at Encore Magazine in Wilmington. With a minor in psychology and creative writing, I have a keen interest in the human condition and the inner workings of people's minds. My ultimate goal in life would be writing in television. My tastes range from The Golden Girls to American Horror Story. I look forward to getting to know you guys, and am excited to see what this year in Visions has in store for us.