Saturday, February 13, 2010

Announcing Indie Film Bootcamp!!!


Filmmakers, What is Nobody Telling You?

It’s a hard fact that some of the most valuable filmmaking knowledge is not really covered in most filmmaking classes and seminars. The insider tips, tactics and techniques that we deliver in this seminar are all things that you will eventually learn if you stay in the industry and keep making films and video.

But the real question is - How will you learn them?…Through the usual expensive trial and error, morale-busting mistakes and years of hard knocks in the trenches? OR By learning vicariously from the shared experience of other independent filmmakers like you that have already been there and done that?

Nobody Told Us Either

Between the three instructors presenting this seminar, we’ve taken our indie lumps several times over. When we started out nobody told us some of the most crucial things we needed to master to become better filmmakers and consistently create professional-quality videos. From the intricacies of wooing an investor to the perils of shooting without permits…we learned it all the hard way.

At Indie Film Bootcamp, you can learn it all the EASY way – from our mistakes and hard-won experience. And not just our mistakes, but also our many indie successes. Between us, we’ve taken multiple top prizes at major film festivals, produced music videos and shows on MTV, been screened on Showtime and Starz, wooed and directed A-list talent, and screened films at Sundance, Slamdance, Tribeca and beyond. However, the reality is that if we knew just half of what we’re now sharing at Indie Film Bootcamp, we could have done it all faster, cheaper and with even better results.

This is Not a Class…It’s a Mission

This isn’t just a supplementary paycheck for us. Educating others is a life-long part of our filmmaking mission. We are so serious about this mission that we produce and host a weekly radio show and podcast just for aspiring filmmakers entitled, The Double Down Film Show, and have even published the best-selling film book on practical digital filmmaking, The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide. Two of us even serve as adjunct film/tv professors at NYU’s legendary Tisch School of the Arts. But none of those venues allows us to tell you everything that we want to share. In these live seminars, we tell you the keys to everything we wished someone had told us at the start of our careers with no B.S. and no holds barred.

If you’re just beginning your filmmaking journey or stalled out somewhere in the middle, we pose the crucial question:

What is nobody telling you that’s holding back your filmmaking progress?

Actionable Knowledge & Advice

We’ve packed more than 25 years of combined indie filmmaking experience into six dynamic seminars that shed light on everything you won’t learn in film school, books and other seminars. We’ll teach you exactly where and how you can take effective short cut’s to save precious time and money, as well as which common amateur filmmaker short cuts will derail your project.

This seminar series will present all the practical filmmaking knowledge that you need to make your films and videos better, faster, and cheaper in a single full-day of:

  • SPECIFIC – Insider Techniques & Tactics
  • PRACTICAL – Filmmaking Tips and Wisdom
  • CANDID – Real-world Advice
  • INSPIRATIONAL – Case studies and examples

…All jam-packed into six one-of-a-kind indie filmmaking seminars from three dynamic and unique voices on the indie film scene that have already been there and done that. We’ll teach you everything we’ve learned the hard way….so you won’t have to.

This is a unique opportunity to receive 8+ hours of straight-up practical and real-world advice and get a jump start on the things you most need to succeed from fundraising to guerrilla production tactics to specific digital video tips and techniques. This is knowledge and advice that you can immediately apply to make your projects better, faster, and cheaper.

We’ll Tell You What They Won’t

We aren’t just going to help prepare you for the technical and procedural side of filmmaking. We will also cover some of the most crucial business, social and psychological aspects of the industry that are often overlooked, but have just as much impact on the final product.

We will teach you how to:

  • Clearly conceive, plan and EXECUTE your creative vision
  • MAXIMIZE production value despite limited resources
  • Adopt a BULLET-PROOF indie mindset and philosophy
  • Develop a solid STRATEGY for long-term career success

…all detailed from our own personal experience, step-by-step with clear illustrations and examples that you can follow and apply to your own work. But be warned, after you attend Indie Film Bootcamp you won’t be able to say nobody told you.

One-of-a-Kind Filmmaking Seminars


Down and Dirty Filmmaking: Guerrilla Tactics – Professional Results

An overview of guerrilla film making philosophy, tactics, and procedures that can be applied to any budget, any camera, any time. Learn the mindset and specific practices it takes to maximize your film making resources and increase production value. This is Anthony’s most popular seminar as presented across Europe and at the Annual National Association of Broadcasters Conference in Las Vegas.

Anthony Q. Artis Run Time: 1 hr. 30mins.

Click the link below to view a video clip from this seminar:

Down and Dirty Filmmaking Excerpt – “Attracting Name Talent” from Anthony Artis on Vimeo.

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How To Make a $1 Million Video (…without $1 Million)

Nowadays, anyone can access the tools to make a music video or new media project, but only a few can make them good enough to land paying corporate clients and be aired on major tv networks. Whiz kid video director, Benjamin Ahr Harrison, of Double 7 Film will give you an overview of the cutting edge digital tools, techniques, and practical strategies that can help you make music videos, commercials and other impressive, low cost/high production value videos that blow away audiences and keep clients coming back for more.

Benjamin Ahr Harrison Run Time: 1hr. 20mins.

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Documentary Interview Bootcamp

An A-Z overview of all the facets for conducting a successful interview – from the technical practices of camera, audio and lighting to the practical techniques of planning and conducting interviews. This workshop is perfect for aspiring documentary filmmakers, small businesses, corporate videographers, and video journalists who are looking to expand and sharpen their skill set.

Anthony Q. Artis Run Time: 1 hr. 30mins.

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The Psychology & Technique of Directing

You know the difference between close-ups and tracking shots, you’re familiar with who should be doing what on your set, but what do you do when personalities clash, time is running out, and you suddenly realize that you weren’t as prepared as you thought? This seminar will arm you with the necessary tactics to manage any production and ensure that your creative vision is translated to cast, crew, and most importantly, the audience that will see your film.

Pete Chatmon Run Time: 1hr. 30mins.

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Raising Funds and Pitching…Effectively

What good is a great idea if it never gets off the page? Raising money is the hardest part of filmmaking at every level, nevertheless, we all leave resources untapped due to poor self-promotion, ineffective proposals, and failing to speak the language of the investor, executive, or any other type of person sitting across the table. Being able to secure financing means being able to sell your idea. This seminar will help you streamline your efforts as you embark on the beautiful journey of going from script to screen.

Pete Chatmon Run Time: 1hr. 30mins.

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Learn, Break In & Rise Up In The Biz

No one ever said breaking into the film and tv industry was easy, especially during an economic crisis! If you’ve recently graduated from film school, or are looking to make a career transition, then this seminar is the perfect introduction into the real world of film and TV. This is a one of a kind seminar guaranteed to inspire and motivate and fully-arm attendees with the attitude and counter-intuitive wisdom they need to advance in the film and tv industry. Presented only 3 times in 3 years, Anthony, will reveal his winning 5-step formula for getting noticed and promoted on any job in any field of entertainment or beyond. Using the steps outlined in this seminar, attendees will get a no-nonsense blue-print for better learning their craft, aquiring more power and control over their circumstances and parlaying an entry-level (or even temp job) in the industry into a major career break. This course is highly-recommended for anyone that aspires to work for a major network, studio, production company or other corporate entertainment company.

Anthony Q. Artis Run Time: 1 hr. 45 mins.

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YOUR INSTRUCTORS


ANTHONY Q. ARTIS, The Video Evangelist

Anthony Q. Artis is a 15-year veteran of the film and TV industry and the author of The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide (Focal Press 2007) and the upcoming The Shut Up and Shoot Freelance Video Guide (Focal Press 2011). His features and shows have been screened at the Tribeca Film Festival, the IFP Feature Market, Slamdance, and on MTV. Most notably, Anthony produced the 2003 IFP Feature Market grand prize-winner, Shelter, Associate Produced the IFC-backed feature documentary, Paper Chasers, and served as a Segment Producer for the popular MTV reality series Flipped. He has worked professionally in positions as diverse as producer, gaffer, cinematographer, special-fx make up, sound mixer and location manager. Having established a presence in television and the indie film world, Anthony founded the production and guerrilla film training company, Down and Dirty DV, LLC. As CEO and producer for the company, Anthony has produced dynamic attention-grabbing video projects for TV, DVD and the Web for clients such as Focal Press, Elsevier Publishing, The Clive Davis School of Music and FUSE-TV in recent years. Apart from production, Down and Dirty DV, LLC has come to represent a strong international brand of no-nonsense guerrilla filmmaking instruction. The company’s premiere publication, The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide, has been the best-selling film book on Amazon.com and Neilson’s Bookscan list for more than a year now. After less than a year on the market, The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide was adopted as required reading by NYU, Chapman University, and dozens of other notable film schools around the world. Apart from his duties as CEO of Down and Dirty DV, LLC, Anthony teaches as an adjunct film professor at NYU’s, Tisch School of the Arts, where he also manages production equipment for all grad and undergrad Film and TV students.

PETE CHATMON, The Complete Filmmaker

In today’s age of New Media, writer/producer/director, Pete Chatmon is the guy you want behind the lens. Whether feature filmmaking, commercials, music or viral videos, Chatmon develops content with one focus: to engage and entertain audiences and consumers through honest storytelling. Previous credits include the romantic dramedy PREMIUM, starring Dorian Missick, Zoe Saldana, and Hill Harper, 761st, a documentary on the first black tank battalion in WWII narrated by Andre Braugher, and a variety of new media campaigns for clients including Classic Kicks, New York University, and The Salvation Army. Chatmon is also the recipient of the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival “All Access” Program’s Creative Promise Narrative Award for the bank heist screenplay $FREE.99, written in collaboration with Candice Sanchez McFarlane. A graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Chatmon has been featured in Forbes Magazine, Variety, and on Fox Business Channel. Double 7 Film, his film production and marketing boutique, is based in NYC.

BENJAMIN AHR HARRISON – The Video Whiz Kid

Benjamin Ahr Harrison grew up in America’s most diverse city, Oakland, CA. At the age of twelve he took a summer course in ocean science and decided that his childhood dream of becoming a marine biologist just wasn’t for him. Thereafter, he committed himself fully to his Plan B career of becoming a filmmaker. He attended NYU’s Kanbar Institute for Film and Television Production for his undergraduate education. He is now an award-winning screenwriter and has directed music videos that have screened on MTV and BET, as well as racking up hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube and MySpace. He still maintains a keen interest in ocean and space science, though his taller-than-average build will always stand in the way of his Plan C career: becoming an astronaut. This puts him in the dire position of needing absolutely to succeed in the world of filmmaking.

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Location & Schedule


Date: Saturday – March 27, 2010

Location: New York City – West Village/Soho Area (venue TBA by 3/1/10)

Schedule:

9:00am – Down and Dirty Filmmaking: Guerrilla Tactics – Professional Results

10:30am – Break 5mins.

10:40am – How to Make a Million Dollar Video…without a Million Dollars – 1 hr. 20mins.

12:00am – Documentary Interview Bootcamp 1hr. 20mins.

1:20pm – LUNCH BREAK

2:20pm – Psychology and Technicality of Directing – 1 hr.

3:20pm – Fundraising & Pitching – 1.5 hr.

4:50pm – 10min. Break

5:00pm – How to Learn, Break In, and Rise Up in Show Business – 1.5 hr.

6:30pm – Q&A (15mins.)

7:30pm – After Party (ca$h bar)

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Get Tickets

At major conferences and institutions across the country, you would easily pay $200.00 or more for 8+ hours of hard-to-find info like this. But we’re guerrillas like you and know it’s a recession, so we’re giving you 50% OFF the going rate, so everyone can afford to invest in their filmmaking future.

6 seminars, 3 speakers, 8+ hours

Only $99.00

Early Bird Discount Ends March 6th!

After February 28th price will increase to $120.00

*Price includes exclusive film training and job resource handouts. Please note that due to high demand and group pre-registrations, there are a very limited number of seats for this premiere seminar series.

FREE Giveaways Just for Registering Early

Each Wednesday leading up to the event we new will raffle off a chance to win one of 4 valuable filmmaking prizes on The Double Down Film Show, but only up until March 6, 2010. So if you’re slow, you blow. Here are the rewards of being early:

  • Signed DVD of Pete Chatmon’s indie feature “Premium” starring Avatar’s, Zoe Saldana and Hil Harper.
  • Signed copy of “The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide” by Anthony Q. Artis – the #1 film book on Amazon.com and Neilsen’s Bookscan List!
  • A DVD of the Independent Feature Market Grand Prize-winning drama, “Shelter”, produced by Anthony Q. Artis
  • One hour of consulting w/ Anthony Q. Artis ($150 value!)
  • One hour of consulting w/ Pete Chatmon ($150 value!)

One winner will be announced each Wednesday night until all prizes are gone.

We hope to see you all there!

-Anthony, Pete and Ben

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Everyone's A Producer


Often times indie filmmakers glean whatever techniques they find useful from traditional producing. Well, in times when producing and distribution have gone topsy turby, one always needs to be open to new ideas. Well I just want to share some innovative methods that have been getting some attention and some success.


Last month’s Rotterdam Film Festival saw producer Rutger Wolfson including entire audiences into the fundraising of a film. Imagine that: every person in every seat turned into a co-producer for your film!


To see how he did it, check out the explanation of his “coin” method in the full article here.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

From Project Fizzle to Indie Sizzle - The Double Down Film Show Returns TONITE!



CLASS IS NOT CANCELED DUE TO SNOW

Winter break is over and the new semester is in full effect which can only mean it's time for another season of The Double Down Film Show! Season 3 kicks off with the return of our very first guest, indie filmmaker, Jameel Saleem.

On that debut show, Jameel was trying to raise $$$ for his first feature film,"The Good, The Bad, and The Movie." Since that January 2009 interview, the financing fizzled out and Jameel left L.A. to move back home to Baltimore, almost giving up on filmmaking -- ALMOST. A year later he triumphantly managed to get a feature film financed and to the finish line, but it wasn’t "The Good, The Bad, and The Movie" ... ... it was his new project "CREAM SODA"!There is no magic formula for financing or finishing and every indie filmmaker’s journey to final cut is unique. Jameel will walk us through his journey from project fizzle to indie film sizzle.

  • What common problems plagued his first feature effort?
  • How did he land the money and make a new film in less than a year?
  • What did he do different the second time around?
  • Why didn’t he just quit like so many others?


The answer to all these questions, plus more filmmaking inspiration and education on the next Double Down Film Show. Real problems. Real answers. By filmmakers. For filmmakers.



The Double Down Film Show...Filmmaking Reality Starts Here!


Cream Soda



The Good, The Bad and The Movie



Listen Live Every Wednesday 9pm-10pm E.S.T.

Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956

Listen Live or Download Later Here:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/DoubleDownFilmShow


Take it to go and never miss a show:



*PS - If you can't tune in live, you can still stream the show or save the podcast to your iPod later at the site above.