"Old Typewriter Found in the Basement" by Eye

We are proud to showcase the first blog in our ongoing Media Match Blog Writing Promotion; ‘The Story‘ by screenwriter, and Media Match member Rachel Feldman. If you are interested in participating please send a 500 word blog to us-blog@media-match.com. If your blog is selected you will get a free annual subscription to our Media Match services.

The Story

“I find that most people know what a story is until they sit down to write one.”
- Flannery O’Connor

Everybody thinks they have a story. When I sit in a taxi and the driver learns that I’m a screenwriter, I’m suddenly subjected to whatever drama has unfolded in that person’s life. And everywhere I go it’s the same. Everybody thinks something that happened them has the makings of a great movie.

Now I teach screenwriting in the masters program of a world-renowned film school. Each semester, new, fresh faces eagerly pay big bucks to learn how to become filmmakers. They have dreams, they have ambition – but remarkably many of them don’t have a clue as to what makes a story. I find this baffling to have the desire to be a storyteller yet not have an organic understanding what makes a good story. And yet, I am here to tell you that the vast majority of the students with whom I work suffer from this problem.

Of course, writing is a skill that requires a great deal of time and effort and I know that one does not become a strong writer quickly. This is one of those jobs for which 10,000 hours of practice just scratches the surface. But I’m not talking about the ability to write a story, I’m simply talking about the ability to recognize one.

A beginning, a middle and an end is a good start. We can call that act one, two and three, or just understand that we meet a character who has a problem, we see how that problem complicates that character’s life and then we see how that person changes, grows or learns something from the journey. Voila, a story. And yet so many of these incredibly smart, young adults suddenly clam up and freeze when it’s their turn to make a film. We get a lot of stories without characters, situations that don’t go anywhere, lots of killing and guns, plenty of effects and “cool” shots but strangely – very little story.

My colleagues and I discuss this a lot. We have many theories. Of course, a generation raised by their eyeballs doesn’t help. The visual impulse is strong and our interest in pictures is keen, especially when we’ve been raised with science fiction, action adventure and games. But I don’t think that’s the answer. I think the truth is that The Story is a precious thing. We used to sit in awe around campfires as master storytellers wove strands of story in and out of our imaginations. We held onto their words with baited breath, listening in wonder as to what would happen next. I know that our students will graduate with amazing skills. They will get jobs and work in the industry and become successful and some of them will even become great storytellers, but for now they need to dig deep, to tap into their souls and to strive to discover a unique voice within themselves. A story is a gift, a work of art, a truth – a delicate, intangible resource – and not something just anyone can toss into the air.

By Rachel Feldman

If you are like me then you are a recent transplant to Los Angeles looking for a way into the entertainment industry with little to no social skills and an earnest, self-deprecating wit. With entry level positions needing at least one year experience becoming the latest trend, it seemed that the best thing for me to do was to get an internship. Now, I don’t come from an affluent family, so working for free was far from appealing. However, I do have a supportive family, and they told me that I was in this strange city to pursue a career and I needed to do everything in my power to do so. And I did just that.

However, I’ve since discovered that, just like any job, it pays to do your research. While it’s true that internships can lead to valuable connections, prepare you for a job within the industry, and help you learn what you need to survive in Hollywood, they do not all have the best intentions. It turns out that the United States Department of Labor has laid out six criteria that for-profit companies must comply with to determine whether an unpaid internship is legal or not. Included in this list is that the internship should be similar to training given in an educational environment, that it is solely for the benefit of the intern, and that the intern is not taking the job of a regular employee.  This list is vague at best, and could do with an update. It seems like any business (and I do mean any, as internships have become common in not only the entertainment industry, but in banks and law firms as well) would have to be pretty altruistic if they are going to abide by the Department of Labor. In particular, the “no immediate advantage” criterion seems hard to meet. It seems that most employers would hire an intern because there is a strong, mutual benefit to both the intern and the employer. A quid pro quo of sorts.

Some states have even more rules that further limit what qualifies a legal internship. In the state of California, if you are in an unpaid internship then you MUST get school credit. To be in one otherwise would be illegal. There is also the issue that internships are inherently prejudiced, as people from lower incomes can’t afford to work for free for any amount of time, so only the wealthiest people can be considered in the first place. Let me tell you, as an El Paso native I have never been considered elitist, but then I got an internship and all of a sudden people began treating me as though my whole world view had changed. It was strange, and a little unsettling.

Last year, two interns who worked on the movie Black Swan filed a lawsuit against Fox Searchlight Pictures for violating minimum wage and overtime laws. The lawsuit claims that the producers had the interns perform menial tasks that should’ve been done by regular, paid employees. This is one of the first times that an intern has brought a case to trial, as most interns fear being BLACKLISTED if they ever do so much as complain. I will be interested to see the outcome of the trial, and its impact on the unpaid intern practice.

When people suggested I get an internship I didn’t ask questions. I didn’t know the first thing in how to “break into” the industry, so it made sense to me. After all, I was untrained in film, having gotten my degree in technical theatre, and getting an inside look at how production companies operated seemed like a good deal. I got my first internship through Craigslist and it was painful. I would arrive at the office every day at 9:00am and the producer I was working for would go into the other room and go to sleep. I stayed up front to answer the non-existent calls and e-mails. Around two he would take me to Chipotle for lunch. Every day. Seven days a week. Chipotle.  During all this I had to endure a BARRAGE of ridicule and insults, a manic, screaming assault from my boss. He told me that this was the way interns and assistants were treated, and when I finally got up the courage to quit he had me sit down to watch an episode of Entourage, comparing himself to Ari Gold. Out of sheer confusion and bewilderment I sat and watched. When I left that day I never went back.

I currently work at yet another internship, that I found here on Media Match, and, thankfully, it’s nothing like the first one. I’m learning a few things on this one. I get to do script coverage, which I enjoy immensely, and my bosses treat me with respect. For me, that’s what makes an internship tolerable, there needs to an acknowledgement of the fact that you are giving your time and working for no pay. Being treated without dignity is not ok, even if you are getting paid.

Recently, the New York Times hosted a debate about unpaid internships. One of the debaters was Alex Footman, one of the plaintiffs in the Fox Searchlight suit. The other contributors are authors and lawyers, and all of them have an interesting argument for and against. If you’re thinking of participating in an internship I would suggest reading what they have to say. Unfair Internships is another great resource to check out for more information, or to confirm whether or not you are being taken advantage of, and I urge you to visit.

Update: An intern with Harper’s Bazaar has filed a lawsuit for failing to pay minimum and overtime wages. Read the full article on Slate.

Interviews with illuminating storytellers on the nature of creativity.

We take great joy in spreading the work of our members; one such recent discovery is from Media Match member Steven Fischer. Steven Fischer is a two-time Emmy nominated writer/producer whose live action and animated work includes scripted narratives, documentaries, industrials, and TV programs for Nextel, Maryland Public Television/PBS, TV Asia, AmeriCorps, and National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. He has taught storytelling at the college level and spoken nationally on creativity at Script DC, St. Thomas University, American University, Hollywood Shorts, Maryland Film Festival, Show off Your Shorts Film Fest, University of Maryland Baltimore County, and The Creative Alliance.

In 2011, Snag Films released ‘Old School, New School‘, a piece by Fischer featuring conversations with six-time Oscar nominee William Fraker, actor Brian Cox, jazz legend McCoy Tyner and Tony Award winner Emanuel Azenberg among others. A prime discussion piece for filmmakers and creative souls everywhere, ‘Old School, New School‘ is an intriguing blend of psychological topics, touching on how someone can realize their full creative potential, what kinds of environmental influences may provoke or restrict their creativity, the affects that risk has on a person’s creative progression, the fears and justifications of taking risks.

The film itself was made because Fischer wanted to learn about his own creativity and how he can become a better storyteller. It led the filmmaker on a journey to search for answers. He explained to Snag Films in a recent interview, “I made a documentary asking the question how can an artist grow creatively, because I want to know. It’s an extension of many conversations over many coffees I’ve had with artist-friends and mentors. We’d get together in a café and talk about life and art and philosophy, why things happen the way they do, why people are the way they are, and, of course, how we could achieve our dreams.”

You can watch the intro to the documentary below, and click further to watch the full 33 minutes, courtesy of Snag Films.

Written and Directed by: Steven Fischer
Producers: Steven Fischer, Diane Leigh Davison
Directors of Photography: Chris Cassidy, Phil Rosensteel, Scott Uhlfelder


by Lee Jarvis.

Here at Media Match, we have been pondering the current state of the film and TV production industry. Seeing the ever fluctuating rate of productions in California, we were wondering how the Film Tax Credits of recent years have been affecting our members. We thought we would take a quick poll to see what effect these may have had, and if you have any further experiences or comments, please write your comments below…

by
The Media Match Team

Interested in finding more TV, film and video production jobs in Chicago?

Join Media Match at Bangers & Lace in Chicago! Alongside our sister website, Music Jobs, we will be meeting and mingling at an informal (free) gathering in Chicago’s West Town/Wicker Park neighborhood.

Who is invited? Everyone!

Our wonderful members (that’s you), who include editors, producers, DPs, animators, directors, camera operators, production houses, effects specialists, journalists, sound designers and more. Also attending will be some of the team behind Media Match, and you can ask us questions, share your feedback, get to know our musical tastes and initiate new rivalries just in time for the football season. We want to meet new faces, see old friends and spend some time getting to know our local members. If you can stop by at any point, it’d be great to hang out with you.

INFO

Where? Bangers and Lace, 1670 W.Division, Chicago, IL (view map)
When? Thursday, October 6th
Time? Starts at 5:30 pm – 9:30pm
Price? FREE
Cool? Then RSVP here if you’re coming

Hope to see you there!

The Media Match Team

Enjoy!

Brokeback to the Future

10 Thing I Hate About Commandments

Scranton Royale

Toyz N the Hood

Snatch Wars

Reservoir Turtles

Saw vs Wallace and Gromit

Pulp Muppets

Monty Python meets Star Wars

Titanic: The Sequel

by Lee Jarvis.

Here at Media Match, we strive to find you guys the latest and greatest production jobs and news to keep you all in the loop and working. In our latest venture, we are happy to announce a partnership with MySetLife, the world’s newest global mobile network and showcasing tool for filmmakers and entertainers.

You can now have instant mobile access to all our job listings in North and South America through the MySetLife iPhone App, which is available for free in the App Store. Simply download the app and enter your Media Match email and password in our feature, and never miss a job opportunity again! Android and Blackberry apps are under construction and should be released soon, so keep checking back for the latest updates.

..

With the iPhone app, you can network, communicate, showcase and share your scripts, demo reels, head-shots, bios and art with a network that you control. You also have access to some of the cool in-app purchases within the MySetLife store, such as mobile .pdf invoicing, industry timecards, rate calculator, and a timecode slate and focus charts. With thousands of filmmakers joining the new MySetLife global network every month, head over and check it out now, and show the world what you are capable of.

Get the app here!

We hope you enjoy the app and its features. Please feel free to post your comments below.


The Media-Match Team.

Media Match and US Music jobs are happy to announce their Holiday Giveaway, a Pro Tools Mbox, and you can be in with a chance of winning through our Media Match Facebook Page. 

We’ll also be giving away additional Media Match annual subscriptions to four lucky runners-up. A fifth annual membership winner will be drawn from the site which did not produce the Pro Tools Mbox winner.

Simply click here to “Like” our Facebook Page and follow the link to enter on the Facebook wall. If you’ve already “Liked” us, you’re all set and just keep an eye out for our Facebook status updates on the wall. “Like” our Facebook Page now for your chance to win!

Full terms and conditions and the official rules of the contest are below…

Thanks again and Happy Holidays!

The Media Match Team and The Music Jobs Team

Full Terms & Conditions

1. ABOUT THE CONTEST/ELIGIBILITY: This Contest is being run jointly by www.media-match.com/usa and us.music-jobs.com. The Contest begins at 12:00:00 am on November 15th, 2010 and ends at 11:59:59 pm on December 6th, 2010. The contest is only open to citizens of the United States of America. For participants below the age of 18 at the time of entry, it is acknowledged that the child has participated with full parental consent. Employees and partners of Media Match Inc., its affiliates, subsidiaries, and any entity involved in the development, production, implementation, administration or fulfillment of the contest and the immediate family members and persons living in the same household as such individuals, are not eligible to participate or win.

2. HOW TO ENTER: To enter, register on the Contest website first. No purchase necessary, and no credit card information is taken. Entries should not contain profanity or inappropriate language or content. Inappropriate entries will be disqualified by Media Match Inc. in its sole discretion. One entry per person during the contest period. An automatic second entry in to the contest is only possible by tweeting your entry to the contest using the “Tweet This” option at the time of the first entry. Tweets about the contest made in any other way do not qualify for additional entry.

3. WINNER SELECTION: Winner selection will be conducted on December 7th, and will be completely random. Of all entrants to the contest, one winner will be drawn from entrants across both sites (Media Match and Music Jobs) to receive a Pro Tools Mbox, and a one year subscription to either Media Match or Music Jobs free of charge – depending on which site the winner is registered with. Next, four randomly selected participants from each site will receive a one year subscription to either Media Match or Music Jobs free of charge, and a fifth annual membership winner will be drawn from the site which did not produce the Pro Tools Mbox winner. The decision of the participants selected will be final and binding.

4. WINNERS LIST: The names of the winners will be announced on both Media Match (media-match.com) and Music Jobs (us.music-jobs.com) after the contest is over for a period of time determined by Media Match Inc. The Participant grants Media Match Inc. irrevocable consent in perpetuity to the use his/her name, photographs, provided by the Participants or taken during the Prize distribution in connection with the Contest, in any and all applications including but not limited to advertising, promotion, text, articles, at any time without the Participants further knowledge or consent. If Media Match Inc. is unable to contact a winner (after having taken reasonable measures) within 15 days after the close of the contest, the organizers will declare another winner.

5. PRIZES: All prizes will be handed out after the contest period ends. Reporting and payment of all applicable taxes, fees, and/or surcharges are the sole responsibility of each winner. Media Match Inc. will not replace any lost or stolen prize. Media Match Inc. reserves the right to substitute any prize with another prize of equal or greater value at its sole discretion. Any difference between the actual value of a prize and the approximated prize value as stated in these rules will not be awarded. Media Match Inc. shall not be responsible for the quality or deficiency etc. of the Prize and no claim or request, whatsoever, in this respect shall be entertained by Media Match Inc. The Prize(s) shall not be transferable / redeemable for cash. No request shall be entertained by Media Match Inc. in this behalf.

6. CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION: By entering, participants release and hold harmless Media Match Inc., its subsidiaries, affiliates, employees and partners from any and all liability or any injuries, loss or damage arising from or in connection with participation in this promotion or acceptance/use of any prize. Participation in this contest implies acceptance of all the terms and conditions of the contest. The Participant grants Media Match Inc. irrevocable consent in perpetuity to use all submitted content in any form or manner.

7. GENERAL: This contest is governed by the laws of the United States of America. All disputes in respect of this Contest shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent court/s in Los Angeles, CA. Media Match Inc. reserves the right to suspend, cancel, or modify this promotion if fraud or any other causes beyond its control destroys the integrity of the promotion, as determined by Media Match Inc.

This contest is organized and managed by Media Match Inc., Los Angeles, CA 90048.

The Media Match Team and The Music Jobs Team

Media Match‘s Tammy Romaniuk and US Music Jobs‘s Tara Duffy were invited to appear as guests on AudiNowcast for their 92nd episode. AudioNowcast is a regular podcast of audio professionals talking about the various media industries and many offshoots of sound recording, production, manipulation, and presentaton.

For this episode, the guests discuss their respective websites; if Craigslist is any good for finding jobs (spoiler: Rob doesn’t think so); why independent movies are great for people looking to go in different directions; how to interview; why its important to have good hygiene (seriously); and so much more! Listen below.

The AudioNowcast panel also discussed what room correction devices are and what the panel think of them, they answer some questions on the good old NS-10′s, Rob talks about how awesomely bad his Auratones are, and monitors, monitors everywhere! You can hear the rest of the talk here.

If you have any further questions as to what we do, or how you can improve your chances of success with employers, please ask away in the comments below.

by Lee Jarvis.

Thanks to all our Facebook fans (new and old) who made the Media Match iPad Giveaway such a success!

Our grand prize winner of the 16GB iPad and an annual subscription to Media Match is:

Rachelle Murphy

Also, please congratulate our 4 runners up who each won an annual subscription to Media Match:

Edward Donald

Eric Leach

Thanks again to all our fans (new and old) who made the iPad Giveaway such a success! Here at Media Match, we’re happy to be able to give a little back to our loyal fans.

The Media Match Team.