Tell Ya Friends to Double Down!

Help us promote the show by printing out this 8"x 11" flyer and posting at your school, film club, work place or anywhere where fine film folks gather.

Click here to download a .pdf flyer promoting the Double Down Film Show

"Precious" Smashes the Indie Mold

Peep the extensive new article on Director Lee Daniels (Monsters Ball) blazing hot and controversial new film, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire which is now being presented by Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry.

From all that I've read and heard about the project, this is a very different type of film and a real anomaly on the indie film landscape. How different you may ask? Well let's see...it stars an obese black woman, takes place in the 'hood and it deals with subjects of incest, teen pregnancy, violence, poetry and it's not even remotely a feel good movie.

None of the above typically makes for box office gold. Perhaps most remarkable, given that set-up, Precious was also the most talked about film at the last Sundance Film Fest and became the subject of a bidding war between two major Hollywood players. Like it's star character, the movie completely smashes the mold of our indie expectations.

Of course, any film that's really shaken the ground and captured our imagination upon release has been one that went against the grain of convention. Sometimes you've just gotta believe in, execute and be true to the vision your head even if no one else sees what you see. It's really not their fault. Often they can't see it clearly until the vision is fully executed and translated from your head to reality.

All I know is that somewhere in NYC there's a ghetto poet named Sapphire that nobody believed would amount to much or accomplish much, but it's a damn good thing she didn't believe it 'cause her work is now appearing on the big screen, The Oprah Show, fostering social dialogue and actually helping to change the world...Just goes to show that sometimes they don't know shit.

Dream. Plan. Execute. Repeat... That's the winning formula y'all.

The new New York Times Article on Precious.

The New York Times video interview with Director Lee Daniels

The Art of Shameless Self-Promotion on The Next Double Down Film Show

On the next Double Down Film Show we’ll delve into the fine art of Shameless Self-Promotion. If you make a project and nobody knows about it, does it really exist?…Our answer is, No.

In order for a project to have a successful launch, the public must first be made aware of it. A project only exists in the public consciousness when someone plants it there. Thanks to the digital age, there are more ways than ever to plant the seeds of your project in the public’s mind and many of them are free or dirt cheap.

• How can you establish credibility as an unknown filmmaker?
  
  
• Why should you brand yourself?
  
  
• How can you establish and maintain a healthy online presence?
  
  
• What can you do to partner with like-minded communities?
  
  
• How can you put your fans to work for you?
  
  
• Why is networking one of the most important things you can do?

Listen in as we break down the answers to these questions and more in a live consulting session with Double Down Film Community members, Hiral Shah and Leena Manro, whose new comedy tv series, DeSiCiTi, is a hilarious and timely South Asian spin on love and sex in New York City.

Using DeSiCiti as a case-study, we’ll give our specific strategies for establishing a stronger presence online, attracting free promotion, partnering with other people and otherwise making a name for yourself and your project as you launch your first efforts. Every Wednesday night, listen and learn.

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

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

Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956

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Listen To It Online Here:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/DoubleDownFilmShow

*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.

Author, Barry Hampe, Tout's Our "Back Door to Film School"

Barry Hampe, the author of the documentary book, Making Documentary Films and Videos (2nd. Edition) gave his endorsement of The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide in a post on the International Documentary Association's website, Documentary.org .

I should take this occasion to return the favor and point out that Barry's book is also an excellent resource for budding doc makers. I give more broad strokes of doc-making with a focus on specific technical and practical production tips...Barry gives more detailed strokes with a heavier focus on storytelling, ethics, and editing. Put both books together and you're well on your way to a dynamite doc...


Barry's "SU&S" Review for Documentary.Org

"The back door to film school is now open," Anthony Q. Artis writes at the end of his preface to The Shut Up and Shoot Documentary Guide. And it's true. He has lovingly placed a complete video production course between the covers of a book. Here are all the things a conscientious film teacher tells his students. And, new media being what it is, he's also included a DVD showing, among other things, examples of good and bad sound along with interviews with prominent documentarians...
(read more)

FREE Down and Dirty Filmmaking Bootcamp - Oct. 28th. - REGISTER NOW!

***Hurry up and register. This event is FREE and filling up fast. ***

Down and Dirty DV, Panasonic and B&H Photo Video Superstore present a full-day of FREE intensive filmmaking instruction for emerging indie filmmakers. This unique one-day event will arm you with the knowledge you need to produce a film, whether it be a narrative or documentary on a sensible budget as well as how to get the most out of essential film making tools.

Topics include:

• Down and Dirty Filmmaking: Guerrilla Tactics for Professional Results
  An overview of specific 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 our most popular crowd-pleasing seminar.
  Run Time: 1 hr. 45 mins. - Presented by Anthony Q. Artis

• 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.
  Run Time: 1 hr. 30mins. - Presented by Anthony Q. Artis

• Feeding Housing and Transporting Your Crew
  When your budget is tight, you really can't afford to put your money anywhere except up on the screen, but you've still got to take care of your crew. This seminar will cover common creative lower costs options for crew meals, transportation and housing. Guerrilla film guru Anthony Artis, will share tips for keeping your crew happy on budget with specific examples from his work as a producer on the award-winning film “SHELTER” and the IFC-backed road documentary, “PAPER CHASERS.”
  Run Time: 45 mins. - Presented by Anthony Q. Artis
  
  
• How to Learn, Break In, and Rise Up in the film making business
  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.
  Run Time: 1 hr. 45 mins. - Presented by Anthony Q. Artis

• Panasonic’s newest AVCCAM cameras, tools, and AVCHD workflow
  Residing at the core of your production is the camera and workflow. The essential tools are the new Panasonic AG-HMC40 camera that shoots video and stills, the HMC150 that shines with amazing low light quality (especially good for challenging light situations), the AG-HMR10 playback/recorder and the AG-HCK10 POV CAM.
  
  This professional equipment will be fully explored, along with Panasonic’s latest affordable AVCCAM products in which you’ll learn how to integrate their high end capture and playback capabilities into your workflow.
  Run Time TBD - Presented by Bernie Mitchell

This event is free, but you must register to attend.

*CLICK HERE TO REGISTER*

This event WILL sell out, so register now.

Your Speakers:
Your instructors at this all day filmmaking Boot camp will be award winning industry insiders and professionals, Anthony Q. Artis and Bernie Mitchell. This will be a no-nonsense, intensive, and illuminating day that will surely benefit your professional career and increase your knowledge in the practical, technical and creative aspects of film making.

Anthony Q. Artis
Anthony Q. Artis originally hails from Baltimore, Maryland, and has made his home in New York City for most of the last 15 years. There he has honed his skills as a straight up digital guerrilla. He has worked professionally in positions as diverse as producer, gaffer, cinematographer, and narrative projects and survived more low-budget shoots than he cares to admit. His feature films and TV shows have screened at the Tribeca Film Festival, the IFP Market, Slamdance, Cinequest, as well as on MTV, The Independent Film Channel and The special-FX make up, sound mixer, and location manager just to name a few. Anthony is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Since graduating, he has crewed and produced a variety of television, documentary Education Channel.


Bernie Mitchell
Bernie is an Emmy nominated Producer/Director/Writer/Editor, Multimedia Person of the year, and DVD Association Hall of Fame member, whose experience includes; overall responsibility for the launch of a global hi-def TV, Radio and Web network, running a marketing consulting and multimedia production company, writing a book and surviving the dot.com madness. Besides running Silver Platter Productions, he is the Panasonic AVCHD Evangelist and a consultant on Panasonic's P2 workflow. Bernie has shot many hours of high definition images, published articles, presented lectures and demos on hi-def world-wide; including The Idiatrod Race, in Alaska at minus 67 degrees. Previously, Bernie was Senior Producer/Director for iPIX Movies, an immersive internet and DVD experience. Bernie produced and directed "Atlantis: Once Upon A Time", the first iPIX Movie to be streamed over the internet. He created and posted daily immersive images from the Olympics in Sydney and the Burning Man Festival.

Producer Monty Ross on the Next Double Down Film Show!

Our special guest on the next Double Down Film Show will be notable film producer, Monty Ross. Monty began his filmmaking career as an acting student at Clark Atlanta University where he had the remarkable experience of being classmates with the likes of Spike Lee, Jasmine Guy, Bill Nunn, and Samuel L. Jackson amongst others.

During a filmmaking career that spans from the 80’s to present day, Monty was one of Spike Lee’s first producing collaborators who co-produced Spike's films, She’s Gotta Have It, School Daze, Do The Right Thing, Crooklyn, Malcolm X and more.

• How can what you don’t know work to your advantage?
  
  
• What do talented producers look for when choosing directors?
  
  
• How can you develop your own “do or die” attitude and methodology?
  
  
• How can you choose the right project and director to work with?
  
  
• What are the red flags of a potentially bad filmmaking partnership?

Monty Ross will give you his straight-forward advice and candid anecdotes on all of the above in this extended interview on the realities of pushing film projects all the way through from concept to completion with limited resources.

Close the gap between filmmaking theory and filmmaking reality every Wednesday night. The back door to film school is now open.

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

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

Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956

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Listen To It Online Here:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/DoubleDownFilmShow

*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.

Entertainment Law for Indies on the Next Double Down Film Show

On the next Double Down Film Show we’ll be cracking open the back door to law school to discuss some common legal issues that affect indie filmmakers with our featured guest, entertainment attorney, Andre Des Rochers, whose firm has represented a number of notable indie features, including director Lee Daniel’s hot new project, "PRECIOUS, Based on the Novel PUSH by Sapphire".

• At what point in production should you bring an attorney on board?
• How can you protect yourself in a partnership with collaborators?
• What is the attorney’s role in feature fundraising?
• What are some of the red flags of a bad distribution deal?
• How can you stay out of trouble when using music in your film?

The “Show” is only half the equation, the other half is the “Business”. Just capturing your vision on the screen is hard enough, but successfully seeing that vision all the way through to full distribution requires the input of a good attorney.

Find out what you most need to know to shepherd and protect your vision from concept to premiere…only on the Double Down Film Show.

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

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

Call-in Number: (646) 929-1956

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Listen To It Online Here:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/DoubleDownFilmShow

*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.

Breakin' It Down w/ the Script Supervisor - Tonite on The Double Down Film Show

There's the D.P., Producer, and A.D... but are you familiar with the director's other right hand person - the Script Supervisor? On the next Double Down Film Show we'll break it down with Premium Script Supervisor, Rachel Connors, who's helped to keep things on point for dozens of indie features and tv shows through the years.

• How can a script supervisor help you make your film better?
• How can you make the most of your script super on set?
• What do they watch that you don't?
• How can they save you time, money and heartache on-set and in post?

All of this and more will be revealed on this week's Double Down Film Show. Get more practical tips and real talk about working in the film and tv industry every week.

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

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This Episode is sponsored by Brian Famous Brand T-Shirts

The Double Down Film Community is Blowing Up the Scene!

This past month saw not one, but two, Double Down Film Show listeners and community members get major recognition for their new projects and some great ink in major publications. I've kept in touch with both of these filmmakers as they launched these projects and it's always mad inspiring to watch filmmakers and projects grow and take off.

In case you missed the news...

LORIEN GREEN, GETS A WRITE UP IN WIRED MAGAZINE FOR HER DOC, GOING CARDBOARD

Peep this article about first time filmmaker, Down and Dirty DV fan and self-admitted geeky mom, Lorien Green's, new documentary Going Cardboard: A Board Game Documentary. You go girl!

Check out the Wired Magazine Article.










AL THOMPSON'S JOHNNY B. HOMELESS WEB SERIES TAKES TOP PRIZE AT THE NEW YORK TV FESTIVAL

Long-time actor and emerging filmmaker, Al Thompson's new web series, Johnny B. Homeless, starring Saturday Night Live cast member, Kenan Thompson, just won The Audience Choice Award at the New York TV Festival.

Peep the article in The Hollywood Reporter.



Proof positive that hustle, drive and creativity can still overcome a lack of resources. Congrats to these original members of the Double Down Film Community. Don't stop. Get it. Get it.

From Film School to TV Director in 3 Years Flat TONITE on the Double Down Film Show

On the next Double Down Film Show, we’ll rap with working director, Seith Mann. After completing NYU’s graduate film program with his award-winning short, Five Deep Breaths, Seith has gone on to direct episodes of some of the hottest shows on television including The Wire, Friday Night Lights, Entourage, Grey’s Anatomy, Cold Case and more!

We’ll talk about life after film school, the "do’s" and "don'ts" for aspiring directors on set, TV vs. Film, plus more practical advice and real talk about the things you won’t learn in a classroom...only on The Double Down Film Show, your back door to film school.

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