Newsletter - May 2010
Washington Filmworks Announces
It's a wrap! Commercial productions from Digital Kitchen and Catch 22 have completed principal photography in Washington State!
Executive Director travels to LA
Executive Director Amy Lillard Dee spent two days in LA taking meetings with independent producers and directors who have projects shooting this summer and fall. The meetings proved very successful and resulted in two groups traveling to Washington State for location scouts in the coming months. Amy also spent time meeting with content creators exploring ways in which these filmmakers can better capitalize on the interactive resources Washington State has to offer.
Washington Filmworks Pulling Focus Recap
Washington Filmworks hosted its final Pulling Focus panels on Tuesday, May 4th and Tuesday, May 11th at the Sorrento Hotel. On May 4th guests had the opportunity to hear first hand from digital media pioneers Michael Arrieta (founder and CEO of LA based Big Air Studios) and Hanson Hosein (Director of the Master of Communication in Digital Media at the University of Washington) about how the film industry can capitalize on the newest advances in digital technology. The following week guests were treated to a candid conversation with writer, director, producer, Stephen Gyllenhaal, and Producer Peggy Rajski who both shared stories, offered insight and advice from their experiences working in both film and television. Following each panel discussion guests were invited to continue the conversation at a wine reception in the Sorrento's Penthouse with wine provided by the Washington Wine Commission.
With an average of 85 guests attending each panel, the Pulling Focus series proved a huge success. Washington Filmworks would like to thank its participating partners IFP/Seattle, Northwest Film Forum, Northwest Screenwriters Guild, Seattle Office of Film + Music, Seattle Film Institute, Seattle International Film Festival, Women in Film/Seattle, and Warren Etheredge, as well as, hospitality sponsors the Washington Wine Commission and Sorrento Hotel.
Washington Filmworks Around Town
Seattle International Film Festival and Washington Filmworks
On Thursday, May 20th Washington Filmworks attended the Seattle International Film Festival's Opening Night Gala Celebration. Staff joined upwards of 2500 people at Benaroya Hall to kick off the 25-day festival. Running from May 20 to June 13, the festival hosts a variety of events, honorary tributes, panel discussions and special screenings. To find out more information or to keep up to date on festival special events and screenings visit: http://www.siff.net/
Inspired by the success of the Park City filmmaker dinners, Washington Filmworks and the Seattle Office of Film + Music will host two dinners with SIFF on Saturday, June 5th and Friday, June 11th. These intimate events give Washington Filmworks and the Seattle Film Office of Film + Music the ability to network and talk business with some of the industry's most influential filmmakers. Guests will be treated to signature Northwest cuisine prepared by award-winning chef John Sundstrom from Capitol Hill's Lark Restaurant. And each course will be paired with wine provided by Jay Soloff from De Lille Cellars in Redmond, WA.
Washington Filmworks and the Seattle Office of Film + Music will be co-hosting a panel titled "For The Love of Money" on Saturday, June 5th at 2:00pm in the Digital Media Lab. The worldwide credit crunch has made investors wary and competition for independent film financing is fierce. From independent filmmakers with micro-budgets to studio execs packaging franchise movies, everyone is asking the same thing: where do we find the money? Join Peter Trinh from ICM Independent, Tim Williams from GreenStreet Films and Seattle-based Producer Jennifer Roth for an animated discussion moderated by Warren Etheredge from the Warren Report.
Washington Filmworks heads to Spokane
KNIFVES has invited Executive Director Amy Lillard Dee and Production Services Manager Lindsey Johnson to serve as keynote speakers at their monthly meeting on Thursday, May 27th in Spokane. The presentation will address Washington States' film industry from the past, present as well as hopes for the future. KNIFVES is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing an open forum to all inland Northwest Film, Video and Live Entertainment professionals amateurs and enthusiasts to promote knowledge, education, training and networking. For more information visit: http://www.knifves.org/. While in Spokane Amy and Lindsey will also attend SpIFF and REELSpokane's Local Film Contest, as well as scout the region for future film and commercial projects.
Washington Filmworks Staying Connected
As part of the "Coffee Talk" series Washington Filmworks met with Seattle based entertainment lawyer Gano Lemoine from Lemoine Law Firm. Gano has been practicing entertainment and media law for over 17 years and owns his own media & business law practice and is a General Counsel of a multimedia online video game company.
"Coffee Talk" is a series of casual conversations with leaders from the film and business communities to discuss trends, events and politics happening around the state. These discussions provide an opportunity to talk about potential areas of collaboration as well as Washington Filmworks' mission and goals.
Washington Filmworks Update
Washington Filmworks has revised its Guidelines and Criteria. Please visit our "For Filmmakers" section of the website to find out how we've made finding information about the program more efficient: http://www.washingtonfilmworks.org/index.php/Filmmakers/Guidelines/
Around the State
Pickford Film Center, Children's Film Festival
Tacoma based filmmaker Joe Rosati discusses his film "A Perfect Life"
Megan Griffiths' feature film "The Off Hours" featured in Seattle Woman Magazine
National Industry News
Jon Reiss Tells You How to Survive as a Filmmaker/Filmmaker Magazine
Produced By 2010: Connect with the top producers in film, television, and new media
For Hollywood Producers, Is the Glamour Gone/NYTimes
Cinematic Change and the End of Film/NY Times