Hey Screenwriters! Amtrak is Now Taking Applications for Their Free Residency for Writers

March 16, 2014

From No Film School, By V Renée Well, it has happened — and much sooner than expected. Less than a month ago, writers Zach Seward and Jessica Gross made a passing comment on Twitter expressing their desire for Amtrak to start offering residencies for writers, and after a couple of test runs and ironing out of details, the railroad … More Hey Screenwriters! Amtrak is Now Taking Applications for Their Free Residency for Writers

Where’s the Diversity, Hollywood? 85 Years of the Academy Awards

March 12, 2014

From Lee and Low The Academy Awards will soon unveil the very best in filmmaking in 2014. As the prediction chatter ricochets around the web, our curiosity about the level of racial and gender representation of the Academy Awards is the focus of our next Diversity Gap study. We reviewed the Academy’s entire 85-year history … More Where’s the Diversity, Hollywood? 85 Years of the Academy Awards

The 5 Locations Low-Budget Films Should Avoid In New York

March 11, 2014

From Scouting NY.  Posted by: Scout Every week, I receive numerous requests from no/low budget filmmakers in search of New York City locations for cheap. Some I can help with; most, I simply don’t know where to begin. While it’s certainly possible to make low-budget films in New York, it often requires a personal connection … More The 5 Locations Low-Budget Films Should Avoid In New York

At Sundance, Vimeo Launches a $500K Program for Crowdfunded Films

January 17, 2014

Vimeo has launched a $500K program to support crowdfunded films, the digital platform announced at Sundance today. Vimeo will review films which have raised $10,000 or more on crowdfunding platforms such as Indiegogo, Kickstarter and Seed&Spark, and select projects to receive free Vimeo PRO accounts. In exchange for an exclusive digital premiere window on Vimeo … More At Sundance, Vimeo Launches a $500K Program for Crowdfunded Films

Vimeo or YouTube?

January 2, 2014

So you created your short film, finished your post production, and you are now ready to post your film online. But where do you upload it? Some might say it’s easy, upload it as many places possible. I say that’s not such a great idea, at least not for the first stages of your release. … More Vimeo or YouTube?

7 Surprisingly Low Budget Effects In Big Budget Movies

December 3, 2013

From Cinematic Listology By David Christopher Bell Sometimes the best solution is also the easiest. When it comes to making movies, however, nothing tends to be easy. Then again, there have been a few instances where the solution – while still not anywhere close to easy – was at least simple. Cheap, even. Check out … More 7 Surprisingly Low Budget Effects In Big Budget Movies

POV's 2013 Documentary Filmmaking Equipment Survey

November 15, 2013

POV asked documentarians to share their experiences with equipment and documentary tools – from cameras and lenses to animation software and mobile apps – to create a comprehensive equipment list based on what filmmakers are actually using in the field. Whether you’re a novice or veteran, this unique resource will help you make some big … More POV's 2013 Documentary Filmmaking Equipment Survey

Taking Aim At Gender Bias In Movies w/ The Bechdel Test. How Would It Work w/ Race?

November 13, 2013

by Tambay A. Obenson, Shadow and Act Does your film pass the Bechdel Test? Imagine if the test caught on here in the USA. Theaters in Sweden have adopted the test as a new way to highlight gender bias in cinema. In short, if your movie passes the Bechdel test, it gets a passing grade. … More Taking Aim At Gender Bias In Movies w/ The Bechdel Test. How Would It Work w/ Race?

Where Are All the Zombies of Colour?

November 7, 2013

By Jenn, The Nerds of Color I don’t mean the zombie survivors. I mean the zombies. Ironically, The Walking Dead is pretty racially diverse compared to other zombie movies in the genre. Remember Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead remake? There are, in that case, two sole surviving Black men, although one (Mekhi Phifer’s Andre) is singularly stupid. Meanwhile, … More Where Are All the Zombies of Colour?

The Cineaste’s Guide to Watching Movies While Stoned

November 3, 2013

The 1960s and ’70s were a golden age of film—especially if you didn’t mind the smell of pot smoke in the theater. By J. Hoberman , The Nation I’ve heard that the French call one’s late teens and early 20s the “age of moviegoing.” It certainly was mine; it was also, for me, the age … More The Cineaste’s Guide to Watching Movies While Stoned