The Chicago Convergence + TechThursdays@OfficePortCHI Present…

HP Envy Music Video Edit Challenge
A free social, challenge and networking event – open to the Public

The Challenge
* Three editors will compete using a HP Envy laptop with AVID editing software.
* Each HP Envy desktop will contain labeled folders with the building blocks for the video.
* The folder will contain select music, video and sponsor files (to be revealed to contestants prior to event).
* You must create your music video from the files provided.
* You may use any features or software found on the HP Envy to contribute to the finished product.
* You must give your music video a title.
* You must agree to have your finished product published.
* You surrender any rights to the finished product.
* A panel of judges (Thought Equity Motion, Resolution Digital Studios, TRAX Records) will select the winner.

Chris Ross, Corinne Gilliard and Paul Walerow have been selected to be the three editors who will compete to produce a finished music video in front of a live audience in 30 minutes. The winner will receive an HP Envy Laptop.

The event is FREE, open to the public, and attendees will be entered in a drawing for 2 free tickets to NATPE Market & Conference (National Association of Television Program Executives), Jan. 25-27, at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas $1700 value.

Click here to register!

Where? OfficePort CHI, 9 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602 (map)
When? Thursday, Dec 3rd – 6:30-9:30pm. Event is Free and Open to the Public. Free food and cocktails (doors open at 5:30pm)

The Chicago Convergence partners with NATPE for a live streaming event; day prior to the Music Video Challenge

Indie Production for the Multi-Platform World
Los Angeles cocktail reception & session will be live streamed by Stickam.
Streamed event shown at Music Video Edit Challenge on Thursday, Dec 3rd in Chicago.

Where? Held at Writer’s Boot Camp offices (Bergamot Station in Santa Monica California)
When? HPEnvyWednesday, December 2, 2009 from 6 – 8 pm

Panel Discussion
Sure, studios and media giants are producing programming for multiple distribution outlets, but so are the independents and they’re stronger and mightier than ever with the advent of new and inexpensive production tools. How has the game changed for indie producers and creators thanks to changes in consumers’ video consumption? How do you produce on a budget and incubate projects on the Web? And what is the endgame? Don’t miss out on this opportunity to hear from experts on the challenges and opportunities in online video production.

Lee Jarvis.

In a Town Where Bigger is Usually Considered Better, Relaunching a Downsized ShowBiz Expo Just May Have Worked Out for the Best!

The Film, Stage and ShowBiz Expo is billed as “a five-star event that brings everyone in show business together under one roof.” Having been involved in the entertainment industry here in Southern California for almost thirty-five years (twenty-four of them as President of my own company, The Research Department), I had been a fairly regular attendee of this event when it was held annually in Los Angeles up to 2002. Since 2003, Producer Zachary Lezberg had been producing the twice-annual Film, Stage and ShowBiz Expo events only in New York City so I was excited to learn about his plans to “relaunch” the Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center on October 17, 2009.

Personally, I find the benefit of these events to be highly relational to an individual’s needs. In a nutshell, the day pretty much becomes what you make it. I always pack plenty of business cards, brochures and a notepad. Don’t worry if you forget your pen, you could have at least a half-dozen by the time you clear the first row of exhibitors. More importantly, I bring along a broadly optimistic attitude that goes something like this: if I make a new friend or business connection or reconnect with one old friend plus maybe learn a few new things then I figure it was worth my time.

For the full article, please head over to http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2330344/review_showbiz_expo_returns_to_los.html?singlepage=true&cat=2

Article by Christopher Darryn

The next Los Angeles ShowBiz Expo is scheduled for April 24th and 25th in 2010.

I recently discovered a company called Urbanscreen, a group of free media artists and architects based in Germany, who deal in research and development of experimental media installations with the aim to stage urban areas. I thought that these are amazing pieces of video production that some of our Media Match members may enjoy.

JUMP

JUMP | media facade | urban screening from urbanscreen on Vimeo.

The project “Jump” is focusing on mapped video projection with a strict reference to architectural structure. The house front has been rebuilt in a studio setting with a proportion of 1:1,4. The setup becomes a stage for artists and performers. Later the captured video content is projected on the building.
Music by Jan Jelinek

PINWALL

Pinwall | interactive facade pinball | urban screening from urbanscreen on Vimeo.

Pinwall is a interactive facade pinball game. The project was realized in context of “Viertelfest Bremen” 2007.
Music by Flanger

555 KUBIK

555 KUBIK | facade projection | from urbanscreen on Vimeo.

The conception of this project consistently derives from its underlying architecture – the theoretic conception and visual pattern of the Hamburg Kunsthalle. The Basic idea of narration was to dissolve and break through the strict architecture of O. M. Ungers “Galerie der Gegenwart”. Resultant permeabilty of the solid facade uncovers different interpretations of conception, geometry and aesthetics expressed through graphics and movement. A situation of reflexivity evolves – describing the constitution and spacious perception of this location by means of the building itself.

Production: urbanscreen.com
Art Direction: Daniel Rossa – rossarossa.de
Technical Director: Thorsten Bauer
3D Operator: David Starmann shineundsein.de
Sound Design : Jonas Wiese
Realized with mxwendler.net mediaserver

Lee Jarvis.

Disposable Film Fest ‘09 Promo from Disposable Film Festival on Vimeo.

WHAT IS THE DISPOSABLE FILM FESTIVAL?

The Disposable Film Festival was created in 2007 to celebrate the artistic potential of disposable video: short films made on non-professional devices such as one-time use video cameras, cell phones, point and shoot cameras, webcams, computer screen capture software, and other readily available video capture devices. With people everywhere gaining access to these devices, it was felt that the time was right to draw attention to the creative potential of this new mode of filmmaking. Far beyond its initial roles for video blogging and documentation, the DFF offers a forum to display how disposable media can be used for creative purposes. The DFF hosts screenings, competitions, and other events to showcase the best work within the disposable genre.

…and they want your Disposable Films. So, shoot ‘em, cut ‘em, and send ‘em in.

WHAT IS DISPOSABLE FILM?

In recent years a new kind of film has emerged: The Disposable Film. It has been made possible by new media (webcams, point and shoot digital cameras, cell phones, screen capture software, and one time use digital video cameras) and the rise of online distribution (YouTube, Google, MySpace, etc.). These films are often made quickly, casually, and sometimes even unintentionally.

Everyone has become a Disposable Filmmaker: directors of Saturday night cell phone videos, actors under the eyes of security cameras, and narrators before their webcams. Let’s face it – we live in an age of disposable film. Now it’s time to do something creative with it.

Submissions for DFF 2010 now open!
Deadline Extended : October 1st, 2009

Quentin Tarantino’s latest offering ‘Inglourious Basterds‘ has hit the screens last weekend and has already grossed in the region of $37.6m in the US. The movie is seen as a pivotal release for the recently struggling indie Weinstein Company, and will be closely followed by Halloween II, expecting to lead them into a strong fall season. It’s also good news for Universal, who split the cost of the movie and distributed it to 22 foreign territories, grossing $27.5m overseas. Those of you looking for a taster of the movie, here is the official trailer…

‘Basterds’ has made waves online, with it’s Twitter following not only growing, but Tweets from fans doing much of the word-of-mouth publicity work. Both the NY Times and LA Times declared it a roaring success, and praise has rained in for Tarantino and Weinsten.

Slightly less has been said of Brad Pitt, which is a shame as I think he really helps make the movie. I’ve always enjoyed Pitt’s characters, from ‘Fight Club’ to ‘Se7en’ to ‘Snatch’ to ‘12 Monkeys’, and I think that this film will slot right into his top five roles.

MTV have uploaded a joint interview with Pitt and Tarantino, which I thought I’d share here as a bit of background.

(Part 1 script)

(Part 2 script)

Feel free to share your thoughts on Pitt, Tarantino, ‘Basterds’, Weinstein or all of the above in our comments!

Lee Jarvis.

This was originally posted at a UK site of the leading jobs in music, but I thought I would cross-post it here, as I think it is a great idea for a film and would like to hear some comments from our Media Match members. I recently saw a TV commercial and realised the release date is next week, so here we go!
~Lee Jarvis

Taking Woodstock is directed by Academy Award®-winner Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain) with a screenplay by James Schamus (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Ice Storm), based on the book Taking Woodstock by Elliot Tiber.

It’s 1969, and Elliot Tiber( played by Demetri Martin), a down-on-his-luck interior designer in Greenwich Village, New York, has to move back upstate to help his parents run their dilapidated Catskills motel, the El Monaco. The bank is about to foreclose; his father wants to burn the place down, but hasn’t paid the insurance; and Elliot is still figuring how to come out to his parents. When Elliot hears that a neighbouring town has pulled the permit on a hippie music festival, he calls the producers, thinking he could drum up some much needed business for the motel. Three weeks later, half a million people are on their way to his neighbour’s farm in White Lake, NY, and Elliot finds himself swept up in a generation-defining experience that would change his life, and American culture, forever.

The film stars Demetri Martin (Important Things with Demetri Martin on Comedy Central) as Elliot Tiber, Emile Hirsch (Milk, Into the Wild), Liev Schreiber (Defiance) and Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake).

http://www.filminfocus.com/focusfeatures/film/taking_woodstock

http://www.facebook.com/TakingWoodstock

Release date: 28th August 2009

(original post // Thanks to Matt @ UK Music Jobs)

Shortly before his death in January 2008, actor Heath Ledger directed a music video for the song “King Rat” by American indie rock band Modest Mouse. Released last week, the powerful yet dark video features a group of whales hunting for men to feed to baby seals. Designer Daniel Auber told The Times “it was very important for him to make a video that would make an impact. We needed to have the shock factor because if it wasn’t dark it wouldn’t be impressive, and if it wasn’t impressive nobody would think about what we are doing to wildlife in the ocean”.

King Rat

The video is available to buy at iTunes, and for the first month of release, all proceeds from the download sales will be donated to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.

Lee Jarvis.

This week, Hewlett Packard announced the HP You on You project, a worldwide contest that ask you to showcase yourself creatively and share who you are on Youtube, without showing your face.

Using the new video creation tools on Youtube allows people of all skills and experience to enter, and to further inspire, HP are giving away more than $300,000 in cash and prizes, ranging from the HP Artists Edition Notebook, to $2,500 for various stage winners and semi-finalists, to be chosen by both Youtube and their viewers.

More information about the HP You on You project is also available at http://www.youtube.com/hp

That’s essentially it! Get out there and create! I’ve already found some great entries, and would love to view more, so please feel free to ‘Declare Your Story’ here on the Media Match blog. Leave a link for your fellow production job hunters in the comments

Lee Jarvis.

I recently came across this teaser video by a chap named Liam Leahy, and found discovered that it is part of an online fundraising competition of sorts, emphasising creative fundraising ideas and other unique forms of charity donation. The proposal is that upon receiving funding, the filmakers will be able to continue with The 5th Tower, and also, profit and fundraising from the finished film will directly benefit the subjects and their community.

Life in Rome’s Gypsy camp “Tor di Quinto” (The 5th Tower) is a balance of independence from broader society, and survival. A universe of its own, and in the camp only family is the measure of wealth…and heritage is the fabric of identity.

Sisters Maria & Silvana Gorgevic have chosen very different paths. Maria, a mother of 6 (and minding 2 of her brothers daughters) is an amazingly articulate former “cat burglar”, now just off 2 years under house arrest (she was confined to her shack in the first shooting session). Illiterate, and with no formal education, she looks into her future with new found optimism, and a conquering spirit. In February of 2009 she will be free to start fresh, and undergo the quest for “normal” work. Life in the camp is hard, but Maria dreams of making her way into a home with electricity and water someday.

I thought it was a great video, and would love to see a full version, so I hoghly recommend that you go to http://www.givemeaning.com/proposal/romadocumentary and Cote for this project to receive further funding and attain completion!

Lee Jarvis.

Hey everyone,

We at Media Match are excited to start up a new promotion. If you are an unpaid registered member of Media Match and own a blog or website, you can get one month of paid membership for FREE. Don’t have an account yet? Sign up, and get your profile running for free, here!

How does it work?

If you are a registered Media Match member and you have a personal blog, this will be quite easy for you. Simply write in your blog about Media Match and include a link to our site. A couple of possible blog post ideas include a short or detailed description of the site, how Media Match has helped you in your job hunt, an informative wiki-like profile of our site, or you can write a review about Media Match.

If you don’t have a blog yet, there are plenty of free blog providers that you can join, including Blogger, Wordpress, TypePad, LiveJournal, and many more.

Have a website, but no blog? No problem! Just write about us on one of your pages, refer people back to us, and link back to our site.

You can link to the Media Match Homepage, but it may be more useful for your readers if you linked to the jobs board page at http://www.media-match.com/jobsboard.php. But, if you feel we have a page on our site more relevant to your readers, feel free to link back to that page instead (ie, the “About Us page“). (Remember, the link has to be clickable. To do this on most blogging platforms, highlight the text you want to make a link, click the icon that looks like a globe with a chain link in front of it, then press OK or DONE).

Once you have your blog post up, send us the following to blog_promo@media-match.com:

1. Your Media Match username (click here to sign up for free)
2. Your website or blog’s URL with the posting about Media Match

Also, if you know anyone in the TV & Film industry that is not with Media Match currently, why not tell them about this promotion? It’s a great opportunity for non members to try out Media Match at no cost. Just have them sign up for a free account at the freelancer registration page to get started!

If you are an unpaid registered member and a part of the mailing list, you got a head start on this promotion. For everyone else, this promotion will last from today, July 2, 2009 until the end of the month, July 31, 2009. Members who qualify for the free one month’s subscription will be contacted by email.

Thanks, everyone!
Media Match

Conditions and terms: URLs and links to Media Match must be clickable. Links with the “no-follow” tag in the HTML are not considered eligible for the promotion. Please allow up to three days for approval. Link and info must be posted outside of Media Match. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and other sites that use “no-folow” and framed browsing do not qualify. Only one free month subscription per member. Free month contingent on Media Match link’s presence for a minimum of 1 month on members’ blog/website.