Friday, April 8, 2011

House passed HB7203!

 The House passed HB7203 on Wednesday, April 6, 2011 and sent to the Senate on Thursday where it passed and will now go to conference committees.
Once again, the bill includes a 5% bonus for productions that takes place in “underutilized regions” - which includes Jacksonville. In addition, the bill increases the amount of credits to be awarded from $38 million to $50 million each year in the last three years of the five year program (2013, 2014 & 2015).

View the bill. Entertainment Industry legislation begins on pg. 22 Line 605 through pg. 30 Line 825.
Photo: Todd Roobin with Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll















Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Production Assistant Seminar


SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

GUEST SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED!!

This weekend-Saturday April 9th!

Jon Spicola - Savannah Film Company
Jody Schiesser - Producer "My Brothers Keeper"

Your success as a Production Assistant is our Business!

Become the UNFORGETTABLE P.A.!!
Give us one day and we'll hand you the tools to build your career in the film industry.
Production Assistant Training Seminar (P.A.T.S.) provides on-location training for entry-level PA's. We provide a thorough orientation of the entertainment industry. By learning the proper etiquette and procedures from seasoned filmmakers, you will walk confidently onto any commercial, television, new media, fashion shoot, theatre or movie set. P.A.T.S. doesn't simply bridge the gap, but truly compliments the creative aspects taught in any high-school, university or college film program with the practical skills of a film set . We give you the tools required, and the knowledge you will need to be a success your first day on a film set.
In the P.A.T.S. seminar we'll provide you:

* Comprehensive manual
* Download of 65+ industry standard forms
* Entry into the P.A.T.S. National database
* Video and PowerPoint Presentations
* Instruction by industry professionals
* Certificate of completion
* P.A.T.S. News!

"Just wanted to thank you and Gary for doing the PA Training workshop. It’s a fantastic program and vital for our students who are trained in an artisanal model of filmmaking rather than in the intricacies of commercial production. The course and materials are outstanding and the students were thrilled with their experience."

All My Best,
Caitlin Horsmon
Assistant Professor
Film & Media Arts
University of Missouri – Kansas City

COURSE OUTLINE
P.A.T.S. seminars instruct participants in the day-to-day requirements of working as a production assistant (PA) on the set.

The first half of the day is our hands-on instruction. Practical drills and demonstrations that will prepare you to show up on your first day of work on a major motion picture and present yourself as the “unforgettable PA.” The skills you learn in the first half of the seminar will allow you to perform at a level of understanding and confidence to get you a ‘call back’ for the second day!
“I took the PA training seminar on Saturday, interviewed on Sunday, got called to work on Monday for my 'Audition' day and got myself the call back for five days on the set! Thanks P.A.T.S.!"
Peter Walker – Des Moines, Iowa
With our innovative guide, examples, and forms we will teach you the following concepts:

MORNING

• Pre-Production
• Production
• The Director's Team
• Your First Day
• Walkie talkie protocol and etiquette
• Background Performers

Our afternoon focuses on the finer points of film making. It prepares you for a deeper understanding of what happens behind the scenes with the Producers, Directors, and Actors. From the page to the screen, we bring all the elements you need to understand the PA’s role in the big picture.
The key element of the seminar is our job search, resume building, and interview techniques session. With P.A.T.S. resume design, we will craft participants individual “industry standard” resumes using their skills, education and practical experience. Production resumes are unique and always go to the top of the pile. The advice and techniques received from P.A.T.S. , prepare you for the interview, so you not only know what to expect, but how to respond.
P.A.T.S. then guides you to where the entry-level jobs are found through online search and network building sites. We will help you understand how to manage the maze of gatekeepers in order to get your resume to the right people.

AFTERNOON

• Other PA positions
• Script Breakdown
• Production Paperwork
• Film Set Safety and Protocol
• Resume and interview skills p>
• Job search techniques

UPON COMPLETION
P.A.T.S. sticks your foot in the door, and stays with you! Each participant's name will be entered into P.A.T.S. national database. Graduates' contact information is made available to Hollywood and local based production companies and local film professionals as a resource for crew staffing on a state-by-state basis. Furthermore, our P.A.T.S. News! provides current topics regarding the film business, tips, and regional job postings!
To view  video on our seminar with NOVAC and the HBO TV series "Treme" CLICK

"This is a very practical and important seminar where information is relayed in an engaging and entertaining manner. Kenny has an excellent understanding of public speaking and teaching so his students can absorb the information. He provide a good mix of practical information and entertaining real life stories. In addition, the real life stories pertain to the material being taught. He is very knowledgeable about his work and is able to relay that information effectively to all students regardless of their interests or backgrounds. I especially appreciate his skill at learning student’s names."

Katrina Ham – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada - June 2010

Jacksonville Film Festival








 

Works In Progress: Truly Everlasting-April 20, 2011
Digital Video Arts is partnered with the JFF to host our Works In Progress Series on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. 6:30-8:30 program. Works In Progress is a once a month program designed for filmmakers to share their work and receive feedback from our filmmaking community. ”Works” include feature films, short films, documentaries, screenplays and music for film.

Gerald Jackson , Jr.
Gerald Jackson, Jr., creator of Five Alive Films, is joining the JFF to present "Truly Everlasting" which wrapped production in summer 2010. "Truly Everlasting" was shot in Jacksonville, Florida. Based on the short story by author Brenda Jackson, the plot focuses on two mismatched lovers who don't know they are perfect for each other.

Time: April 20th, 2011 at 6:30-8:30 p.m
Location: Digital Video Arts, 7775 Belfort Parkway Jacksonville, Florida 32256
Tickets: Free Admission


The REEL People Film Series Presents:

April Screening-Drawing With Chalk
April 25, 2011
Learn More >>> about our monthly film program

Jay and Matt are lifelong friends. They once played in a rock band but after years chasing “the big prize” in New York, they find themselves back in their hometown working at the union factory and dreaming of what might have been. As they hit 40, they decide to give it one more shot. Shortly after starting the process of writing and recording, Jay begins struggling between his childhood dreams of success and his adult responsibilities to his wife Jasmin and 5 year old son Bryan. Matt has his own demons as he battles depression and a fear of being too old for an industry that thrives on youth. When Jay is laid off at the factory, his fierce commitment to his music threatens to tear his family apart. He is ultimately faced with having to make a decision whether or not to say goodbye to one part of his life and begin a new journey with the other.


Time: April 25, 2011 at 7 p.m.
Location: 1028 Park Street,Jacksonville, 32204
Box Office: 904. 359-0047 General Inquiries: 904.858.9889
Tickets: $8.50 or $7.50 with senior, student or military I.D. and JFF members are free!
Click to buy tickets now



Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Citrus Animation Festival Coming Soon!

http://www.citruscel.com/



ImageThe 2011 Citrus Cel Animation Film Festival!  We are only a few weeks away!

After a successful debut last spring, the Citrus Cel Animation Film Festival (“Citrus Cel”) is back to spotlight animation as a creative and commercial force with three days of screenings, an exhibit, a competition and parties, April 8-10, 2011 at the 5 Points Theatre and The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens in Jacksonville, FL. There are only a few weeks left until the event! It’s hard to believe that a year has passed since we first decided to dedicate a whole weekend to animation here in Jacksonville and we are happy bring it back even stronger this year!

Films!

ImageThis year we are happy to have for our opening night feature Bill Plympton’s “Idiots and Angels”, a dark comedy about a reluctant angel battling for his own soul. Plympton is an industry heavyweight whose illustrations have appeared in the New York Times, Rolling Stone, and Vanity Fair, and whose commercial credits include Nike and United Airlines.
The festival will also present this years Oscar Winner “The Lost Thing” from Australia’s Passion Films; and Oscar Nominee “Let’s Pollute”, a modern satire on industry that was an official selection at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Festival in France this year. “Let’s Pollute” is the creation of Geefwee Boedoe, who has illustrated for Pixar and Dreamworks. Both of these works will be featured in the 2nd nights premiere program “Pure Premium”
The program themes, like the films themselves, have been carefully hand-picked to give you a wide range of flavors, including: Apples to Oranges (experimental films); Tangerine Dreams (films with a supernatural spin); Orange You Glad There's Music Videos?, (featuring a slate of music videos, including one by Jamie Hewlett, co-creator of virtual band Gorillaz and comic “Tank Girl”); Pulp (B-movies, noir & horror); and Pure Premium (best of the fest). There’s even a program for the little squirts on Saturday morning that starts with a free community animation workshop at The Cummer Museum, followed by Vitamin C (family friendly program); and the category for young, aspiring filmmakers, Freshly Squeezed. I recommend you sample them all.
The international presence has grown, with over 25 countries represented. We believe we truly have an outstanding group of selections that is destined to take you and your imagination on an exciting ride.


Exhibits and Workshops!
ImageAlso, be sure to check out some of the new components of this year’s festival. First, The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is hosting an animation-inspired art exhibit, "The Art of Storytelling", a display of storyboards, Illustrations, and character designs by industry and student artists. The exhibit runs from 10 am-3 pm on Saturday, and 10 am-2 pm on Sunday.
For fans of stop-motion animation, there is a puppet fabrication workshop with industry artist Dan Field at the Cummer from 12-2 pm on Saturday. Field was the lead character fabricator at L.A.’s Shadow Animation and worked on the Emmy Award-winning “Robot Chicken.” The workshop will discuss the various materials, construction, and functionality needed for a stop-motion production.
Then there’s Juiced!, our 26-hour animated film contest. 10 teams of up to three people each take on the challenge of squeezing a finished animation out of a 26-hour time period. Come see the fruits of their labor screened before Saturday’s feature presentation, Pure Premium.

ImageAll films will be presented at the 5 Points Theatre, Jacksonville’s home for independent film. Opening night, Friday, April 8, kicks off with a catered reception and the opening of the exhibit at The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens. The exhibit runs through Sunday. After Saturday’s program, filmgoers will enjoy an after party at Underbelly, located within Anomaly in Five Points, featuring food, drinks, and music. The festival closes with an awards ceremony on Sunday afternoon.


Details on headlining films, exhibit hours, ticket passes, Juiced! registration info and everything else at www.citruscel.com.

We would like to invite you all to join us at the event. We have and a blast putting it together. Hope to see you there!

Shane Douberly

Festival Director
shane@citruscel.com

To find out more visit-