Film45 - Filmmaking in the North

Who are you? Brennan Vance thinks about such things, then puts those thoughts onto the screen. We get deep right away about identity and much more. This past year he was awarded the 2017 McKnight Media Artist Fellowship. As far as works goes, he was cinematographer on Memories of a Penitent Heart and Robert Klein Still Can’t Stop His Leg.  His narrative debut The Missing Sun received a Jerome Foundation fellowship and was selected as part of the 2016 IFP Filmmaker Narrative Labs, played at Sofia Independent Film Festival, Wisconsin Film Festival, and Ashland Independent Film Festival, where is won a special jury prize. Brennan’s DP work for Twin Cities PBS has earned him three Emmy Awards.

Congrats to Wenonah Wilms on winning the Academy Nicholl Fellowship Screenwriting Award!

Congrats to Cy Dodson on his Oscar-qualifying short film “Beneath The Ink!”

Twin Cities Arab Film Fest

MN WebFest

Theater de la Jeune Lune gallery show

Twin Cities Film Fest

Flyway Film Festival

This episode features cinematographer, AC, and business owner Steve Speers of Cinemechanics. And the big news is that they are hosting the upcoming Next Level Expo on July 31st, 2018 from 1-6pm where various bits of production gear with be featured and reps will be present from RED, Sony, AbelCine, and MotoCrane. See cameras, lenses, rigs, and accessories and learn about full-frame acquisition and camera cars and network with fellow filmmaking folks. Sounds fun to us!

Steve has worked on such projects as Fargo, Bernie, In An Instant, Lady Dynamite, Blood Stripe, Wilson and many others as a cinematographer and/or an AC and he owns and run Cinemechanics, a boutique rental house in the Twin Cities. If you need high-speed or high-end cameras, vintage or specialized lenses, you probably want to talk to Steve and his crew. We get into geekery on 8k resolution, HDR, full frame cameras, advice for upcoming crew, mentorship, and more.

Calendar items:

Next Level Expo, July 31, 2018. From 1-6pm. @ Cinemechanics www.cinemechanics.net

MNFILMTV Summer Town Hall Meeting, August 23, 2018. 5:30-7:30pm. @ 56 Brewing

This year’s FilmNorth Forum is July 14-15th, 2018 and we get a look inside from FilmNorth Executive Director Andrew Peterson. Your registration includes all the panels, the double-feature screening, light breakfast/lunch, one-on-one sessions (optional), and the reception.

Register now: http://myfilmnorth.org/event/2018-forum/

Pre-Forum: 

FREE DOUBLE FEATURE – THURSDAY, JULY 12

A free double-feature screening of Capturing the Flag (Anne de Mare, director) and 1985 (Yen Tan, writer/director,) will take place at the Landmark Lagoon Cinema.

Forum:

FILMMAKER DIALOGUES – SATURDAY, JULY 14

Location: SPNN, 550 Vandalia Street, Suite 170 (Vandalia Annex), St. Paul, MN 55114

Creating TV and Web Series in the Heartland

With an explosion of platforms, less reliance on “name” talent, and a support of independent sensibilities, filmmakers who may have previously made independent features are, instead, making episodic series. And they’re making them everywhere–not just in New York and Los Angeles. Hear from a who’s who of young talent who are making exciting episodic series from the heartland.

Sam Bailey, writer/director/creator of the Emmy nominated web series Brown Girls (being developed for HBO), Gotham Award nominated web series You’re So Talented, Fink (being developed for Universal Cable Productions)

Vincent Johnson, Brown Girls

Naomi Ko, writer/creator/actress Nice (2018 Tribeca Film Festival)

Michael Starburry, writer Central Park Five (Netflix), Legends of Chamberlain Heights (Comedy Central)

Moderated by Matthew G. Anderson, creator Theater People

Getting Political: The Art of Campaign Documentaries

There’s a long and rich history of political documentaries. Join two filmmakers who have created compelling new entries in this canon that shine a light on the current state of affairs and call us to action. Whether the topic is a new and inspiring representative or the political process itself, each director shows there are endless possibilities for compelling stories in modern politics.

Anne de Mare, director Capturing the Flag

Norah Shapiro, director Time for Ilhan

Moderated by documentarian Melody Gilbert

Case Study: 1985

Premiering to rave reviews at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival, Yen Tan’s 1985 quickly racked up awards (most recently winning the Audience Award at the Champs-Élysées Film Festival) and landed distribution with Wolfe Releasing. Interestingly enough, 1985 began as a short film, which premiered at an earlier SXSW Film Festival. How did a low-budget, black and white film shot in Texas manage all this? The usual way: great writing and direction and strong producing. Join writer/director Yen Tan (who also wrote and directed the 2014 Cassavetes Award nominated Pit Stop) and producer Ash Christian (producer or executive producer of 8 feature films in 2018 alone) to find out the secrets of low-budget filmmaking success.

Yen Tan, writer/director

Ash Christian, producer

Moderated by SXSW Film Festival Programmer Gabe Van Amburgh

Plus a Special Dialogue To Be Announced!

Forum:

ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATIONS – SUNDAY, JULY 15

Location: FilmNorth, 550 Vandalia Street, Suite 120 (main building), St. Paul, MN 55114

The following Forum guests will be available for 10-minute consultations. You may request up to two consultations to FilmNorth Education Director Reilly Tillman.

* Sam Bailey

* Ash Christian

* Anne de Mare

* Vincent Johnson

* Yen Tan

* Gabe Van Amburgh

After having three film projects premiere at MSPIFF 2018, Film45 caught up with composer Charlie McCarron to learn about he manages to create all his content, what motivates him, how to talk to composers if you are a director, his own podcast about music (“Composer Quest”), patreon and kickstarter, editing, and even board games. Check out his music and all his shows and plan to get your composer involved earlier in your own project.

Charlie’s website: CharlieMcCarron.com

Charlie’s podcast: Composer Quest

The three recent films at MSPIFF: Silicone Soul, Beneath The Ink, Hearts Want

Watch Sad Clown here.

 

Producer/Partner Brian Stemmler is part of the YouTube series “How To Make Everything” with Andy George. He’s also a commercial producer by day over at KSTP. We talk about his journey from L.A. to Minnesota, working as a field and segment producer in television, what it looks like to have an active YouTube series, how to monetize and publicize, and much more. Tune in if you are curious about streaming episodic content and establishing yourself on YouTube.

How To Make Everything website

How To Make Everything youtube

Brian Stemmler linkedin

Upcoming Events

MNFILMTV Town Hall Meeting at IFP August 17, 2017, 5:30pm.

IFPMN Annual Party, September 14th, 2017, 7pm. Big news promised!

IFPMN Screenwriting Residency applications due September 18th.

IFPMN Cinematography Boot Camp and other classes, ongoing.

Director Eric Howell got his start in the stunt and effects world but his appetite for learning led him through numerous short films, including the multi-award-winning Ana’s Playground, and now to his debut feature film with Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones). We chatted the day after his film premiere at MSPIFF 2017. The full film is available to watch now on iTunes, Amazon, Cable VOD, and other streaming platforms. Visit the Voice From The Stone website for all links.

MCTC

Ana’s Playground – website

Strangers – Trailer

Voice From The Stone – website

 

On Set – The Photos of Wilson Webb – May 6th, 2017.

MNFILMTV Party & Fundraiser – May 25th, 2017.

Arts Learning Series at IFP

IFPMN Classes

On today’s episode of Film45 spring is finally here and that means that 36th annual Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival is in full swing. We sneak in a chat with one of MSPIFF’s lead programmers, Jesse Bishop to learn about how he became a programmer under the tutelage of Al Milgrom, how he approaches curation, and whether or not he ever gets to take a break.

Snowbate is still in jeopardy, so contact your elected officials and let them know what Snowbate means to you!

www.fundsnowbate.com

Some of the films we mentioned: Santoalla, Lipstick Under My Burkha, Russian Woodpecker, The Lost City of Z, The Hippopotamus

http://mspfilm.org/festivals/mspiff/

We’re coming to you “live” from Sundance 2017 Day 3, with Jim Brunzell (Sound Unseen, AGLIFF, Hammer To Nail). In this episode we review some of the films we’ve already seen, what we’re looking forward to, and some notes about the festival and maybe some personal stories, too. Recorded live from our condo in Park City, we hope you enjoy this update and we’ll be back with updates on the Minnesota-related projects here.

Films mentioned:

Dayveon

Person To Person

Free and Easy

Icarus

Wilson

Landline

The Little Hours

Films not mentioned:

Ingrid Goes West

L.A. Times

The Incredible Jessica James

Tokyo Idols

God’s Own Country

Dina

Independent Pilot Series showcase

“I’m from Backus, I can do anything!”

This episode we get schooled in the art of script supervision and continuity, and in having a super can-do attitude, with Aleshia Mueller (ReelNomad). She’s been very busy the last several years working both in town and out (Atlanta and others). Find out what kind of person makes a great script supervisor and what tools she uses to do her job and how volcanoes factor into it all. Check out her IMDB profile.

Listen closely for the chance to receive a complimentary IFPMN membership (and see free Independent Spirit Nominated movies)! Email or tweet me with your answer to the mystery question.

Books mentioned:

Script Supervising and Film Continuity by Pat Miller

Beyond Continuity: Script Supervision for the Modern Filmmaker by Mary Cybulski

Ana’s Playground short film

The IFP 2016 Independent Spirit Awards screenings at The Walker

IFP winter class schedule (including a cinematography boot camp by Jeremy)

McKnight Fellowships for Media Artists – application deadline is March 6th.