The Chicago Underground Film Festival exists to showcase the defiantly independent filmmaker. They aim to “promote films and videos that dissent radically in form, technique, or content from the ‘indie’ mainstream and to present adventurous works that challenge and transcend commercial and audience expectations”.

Held this year from June 24th until July 1 at the Gene Siskel Film Center, CUFF has a reputation of highlighting the quirky, abstract, even oblique and tangent works that other film festivals often overlook. This year’s move to summer dates means it will also avoid calendar clashes with other events, and their presence as the world’s longest running underground film fest means that this could be worth adding to your calendar.

If you think that your film fits the above description, then the final deadline is March 15 and any last minute entries cost $40. Check out the full guide and download an entry form from http://cuff.org/2010/guide.html

Although not a competitive festival, CUFF does present awards, in categories including Narrative Feature, Narrative Short, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short, Experimental, Animation and Music Video. There are also ‘Made in Chicago’ and ‘Audience Choice’ awards.

Keep up to date on the festival via Twitter, Facebook and Myspace.

Lee Jarvis.

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*** $5000 Scholarship Up for Grabs ***

theWHO: Aspiring filmmakers, producers, videographers and on-camera personalities

theWHERE: theWit Hotel, downtown Chicago’s hottest multifaceted hotel, home to:

* ROOF, one of America’s Top 10 Rooftop Bars (Sherman’s Travel)
* cibo matto, Best New Italian Restaurant of 2009 (Chicago Tribune)
* State & Lake, a seasonally driven new American restaurant
* SCREEN, theWit’s $1 million digital high-definition theater
* Spa@theWit, a stylish and invigorating spa experience

theWHAT: A search for Chicago’s best and brightest up-and-coming film and video production talent, with a chance to win $5000 and employment by theWit Hotel from March to December 2010 as in-house producers. Winners will put their skills to work creating lively monthly video “webisodes” that chronicle – with plenty of wit and personality – the exciting nightlife, live music, food, film and spa events taking place continuously in the hotel, plus celebrity cameos, local artists, downtown cultural events, colorful characters and more. theWit Hotel prides itself on being “more experience than hotel,” and your work will shine a spotlight on that unique mantra!

theHOW: Each production team must include one videographer/producer and one vibrant, effervescent on-camera “host.” Each duo will submit a 60- to 90-second demo reel that demonstrates its production capabilities and camera work, as well as the creativity, personality and interactive interview style of the on-air host. Please thoroughly review the guidelines below for more details on submission requirements and the selection and notification process.

theWHEN: All entries must be received or postmarked by February 5, 2010 for consideration. Finalists will be notified via e-mail on February 15, and winners will be announced on February 24.

For guidlelines, entry info and more details, please check out http://www.thewithotel.com/webisodes/

Lee Jarvis.

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Beyond the Pedway is a series of videos by Tim Jahn on creative businesses based in Chicago. In this episode he chats to Chris DeWinter, Whitney Alexander, and Chris Palese of Teletech Video, a video post production and duplication company that specializes in converging new and old media.

For more info, check out http://www.beyondthepedway.com/teletech-video#more-408

Lee Jarvis.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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)

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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.

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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.

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