Members Only: Full Length Videos for Film Week 2013 Panels
by Justin Ferrato on October 21, 2013 in Apply - Gotham Programs
Note: Click on the “playlist” icon on the top left corner of the video to select individual panels.
Day 1: Future Forward
Case Study: Fruitvale Station
In a conversation with Fruitvale Station director and writer, Ryan Coogler, and lead actress Melanie Diaz, the director discusses what inspires his work, and what’s up next for him. Hear about the film’s production and incredible success straight from the source.
Ryan Coogler (Director, Fruitvale Station)
Nicolas Rapold (Senior Editor, Film Comment, MODERATOR)
Melonie Diaz (Actress, Fruitvale Station)
The Future Economy of Independent Film
Scott Macaulay (Editor of Filmmaker Magazine), Noah Harlan, Esther Robinson, and Jan Van Hoy discuss the future economy of independent film. In this conference, industry experts discuss utlizing the left and right sides of the brain, and how they deal with a film’s creative and strategic approaches.
Scott Macaulay (Editor, Filmmaker Magazine, MODERATOR)
Noah Harlan (Founder, Two Bulls)
Esther Robinson (Producer/Director, ThatGrl Media)
Jay Van Hoy (Producer, Parts and Labor Films)
Blitz Wisdom: Scott Stulen #catvidfest
World-renowned contemporary art museum the Walker Art Center took a page from the internet playbook and began their #CatVidFest last year – a film festival dedicated to the cute kitties of the interwebs. Hear from Cat Video Festival producer, Scott Stulen, how internet memes fit into the fine art world and get a sneak peek of the festival, which comes to Brooklyn in October 2013.
Scott Stulen (Program Director, Walter Arts Center, Programmer #CatVidFest)
Blitz Wisdom: Call Me Kuchu
Malika Zouhali-Worrall & Katherine Fairfax Wright’s Call Me Kuchu explores the struggles of the LGBT community in Uganda, focusing in part on the 2011 murder of LGBT activist David Kato. Films like this, working to build a better future for all people, are an integral part IFP’s Envision program, a partnership with the United Nations Department of Public Information, which is co-presenting this event. Hear from the director about her inspirations for a film that aspires to create international change.
Malika Zouhali-Worrall (Co-Director, Call Me Kuchu)
New Black Voices
Black filmmakers say the wave of 2013 releases was built in large part on the creativity that has flourished on the independent-film circuit, which has become a laboratory of sorts for more prominent African-American-themed productions,” The New York Times’ Michael Cipely wrote earlier this year. With all these filmmakers’ buzzworthy films, and more, there should be no doubt that some of the most exciting new independent stories are coming from African-American filmmakers. Hear from the artists behind these projects discuss their experiences in the independent film world, and as culture creators for our generation.
Tambay Obenson (Editor/Writer, Shadow and Act, MODERATOR)
Shaka King (Director, Newlyweeds)
Terence Nance (Director, An Oversimplification of Her Beauty)
Yourba Richen (Director, The New Black)
Big Web Comedy Throwdown
Many of today’s most gifted comedy writers are now getting laughs on the internet. What does this platform offer that it didn’t years ago and why here instead of on stage or on T.V.? The innovative individuals involved in these creations, in front of the camera or behind, will discuss just what our laptop screens can do for creative storytellers and their careers.
Todd Sklar (President, Range Life Entertainment, MODERATOR)
Desiree Akhavan (Co-Director, The Slope)
Paul Briganti (Writer/Director, CollegeHumor & Landline TV)
Ingrid Jungermann (Co-Director, The Slope)
Josh Poole (Development Manager & Producer, Above Average Productions)
Keynote: John Kilik
Indie stalwart producer Jon Kilik refutes the gloomy prophecies of some on the state of independent film, and tells why he thinks the future is bright for independents! Kilik is an Oscar nominee for “Babel” and two-time Golden Globe winner for “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” and “Babel.” This Fall’s releases include three Kilik-produced projects that cover a wide range – Bennett Miller’s “Foxcatcher”, Spike Lee’s “Mike Tyson, The Undisputed Truth”, and the second installment of “The Hunger Games”. Kilik has a wide angle view of our industry. Listen in, and feel revitalized about the road ahead.
Jon Kilik (Producer, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, The Hunger Games)
Day 2: The Truth About Non-Fiction
Case Study: Our Nixon
“Our Nixon” offers an unprecedented, insider’s view of an American presidency, chronicling watershed events including the Apollo moon landing and the path-breaking trip to China, as well as more intimate glimpses of Nixon in times of glory and disgrace. “Our Nixon” is an alumnus of IFP’s Spotlight on Documentaries programs & Independent Filmmaker Labs.
Janet Pierson (Head of SXSW Film, MODERATOR)
Fancisco Bello (Editor, Our Nixon)
Brian Frye (Producer, Our Nixon)
Penny Lane (Director, Our Nixon)
Courtney Sexton (Senior Director, Documentary Films, CNN)
When Documentaries Disturb the Power Structure
A conversation with filmmakers who dare to speak truth to power about the joys and challenges of making documentaries, and why they feel compelled to make this kind of work despite the risks.
Deirdre Haj (Executive Director, Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, MODERATOR)
Claire Aguilar (Executive Content Advisor, ITVS)
Carl Deal (Director, Citizen Koch)
Rachel Grady (Director, Detropia)
Eugene Jarecki (Director, The House I Live In)
Tia Lessin (Director, Citizen Koch)
Blitz Wisdom: Peter Broderick, distribution advisor
In this crash course in new distribution strategies, leading distribution consultant Peter Broderick highlights the most effective ways to maximize revenues from theatrical, retail digital and DVD, and website digital and DVD sales. He also reveals the best strategies for building a personal audience.
Peter Broderick (President, Paradigm Consulting)
Blitz Wisdom: Jamel Shabazz, street photographer
Iconic New York City street photographer Jamel Shabazz has been documenting urban underground culture for since he was a teenager. His single frames tell the story of an era –80s hip hop, today’s street fashion, and sweltering summer days in the city. Hear how he approaches his subjects and what motivates his work, more than 30 years into a career.
Jamel Shabazz (Photographer)
A Conversation with Documentary Subjects
The documentarian and film subject relationship is a uniquely intimate symbiosis. The director is at the helm of a story about someone’s real life, but when the film is released, subjects are called upon to answer questions as though it is just a movie. How do filmmakers manage the long-tail of film promotion with their characters, and how are their lives impacted? Hear from these creative pairs about how each others’ work affects a film.
David Courier (Senior Programmer, Sundance Film Festival, MODERATOR)
Joe Brewseter (Director, American Promise)
Zachary Heinzerling (Director, Cutie & the Boxer)
Ushio and Noriko Shinohara (Subjects, Cutie & the Boxer)
Michèle Stephenson (Director, American Promise)
International Documentary Sales: What Translates?
Top sales agents discuss the international market for documentaries – what American films do well abroad? What makes international docs a success in the US? How do festivals affect a film’s prospects? Hear about the state of the market across English speaking and other foreign territories for American documentaries straight from those in the know, and have all your questions answered.
Debra Zimmerman (Executive Director, Women Make Movies, MODERATOR)
Nancy Gerstman (Co-President, Zeitgeist Films)
Catherine Le Clef (President, Acquisitions & Sales, CAT & Docs)
Andy Whittaker (Chairman, Dogwoof)
Day 3: Crafting a Career
Case Study: “Drunk History”
“Drunk History” presents historical reenactments from A-list talent as told by inebriated storytellers. Hear from the show’s host & creator Derek Waters about the show’s ideation and the transition from award winning web series to successful Comedy Central show.
Brent Hoff (Programming Director, Made in NY Media Center by IFP, MODERATOR)
Derek Waters (Co-Creator, Drunk History)
Why I Say Yes: Investors Speak
Are investors the front line of curation – and how do their decisions effect the zeitgeist of independent cinema? What inspires them and why do they choose to fund the work they do? Hear answers to these questions and more in this exclusive conversation with investors and financiers.
James Janowitz (Senior Partner, Pryor Cashman LLP, MODERATOR)
James Belfer (CEO/Managing Director, Dogfish Accelerator)
Michael Hansen (Managing Director, Three Point Capital)
Amy Hobby (Producer, Tangerine Entertainment)
Carol Ann Shine (Founding Partner, Blackhouse Foundation)
Making Your Film: Video Content Strategy for Building Buzz
Jeremy Boxer (Creative Director of Vimeo), Ryan Koo (Director of Manchild), and Marc Schiller (CEO of BOND) discuss the success of your film can depend on how much you promote it, and promotion is a lot easier when you have things to promote. Learn about creating and circulating captivating content beyond just the trailer — behind-the-scenes footage, short films special features, and more — plus how you can use these amazing assets to drive audience awareness and engagement.
Jeremy Boxer (Creative Director, Film+Video, Vimeo, MODERATOR)
Ryan Koo (Director, Manchild)
Marc Schiller (CEO & Founder, BOND Strategy and Influence)
Blitz Wisdom: Dash Shaw
Dash Shaw is a cartoonist and animator in Brooklyn, New York. His graphic novel “New School” is out now from Fantagraphics Books. His animated works include the Sigur Ros video “Seraph”, “Wheel of Fortune”, and the ifc series “The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century AD.”Dash Shaw’s new graphic novel New School is widely regarded for its unusual use of color, almost the way a score colors a film. Why did he take this approach, and how does work like this compare to his work as animator?
Dash Shaw (Animator)
Want the “Film Look?” Shoot Film.
In the age of everything digital, why do filmmakers, with all size budgets, still choose to shoot film for their productions? Is it a tribute to a technology from the past or the recognition that only film achieves the organic, emotional look necessary to propel their stories? From Star Trek to Beasts of the Southern Wild and even truly micro budget work like Daddy Longlegs and The Color Wheel, film continues to deliver the look. Come join the discussion about the myths, realities and latest technical options of shooting a project on film.
Bob Mastronardi (Sales & Technical Manager, Kodak, MODERATOR)
Nekisa Cooper (Producer, Pariah)
Brett Jutkiewicz (Cinematographer, Daddy Longlegs)
Andrew Renzi (Director, Franny)
Brian Rigne Hubbard (Cinematographer, Circumstance)
Blitz Wisdom: Peter Nashel (Composer)
Composer Pete Nashel engages in an illuminating discussion of his craft, and the astounding difference a score can make in a given scene.
Pete Nashel (Composer)
Local Filmmaking for National Impact
For New York and LA-based productions, many filmmakers are tapping into their own network of support, relying on their own local community. But what if you’re working in Biloxi, Raleigh-Durham, or Minneapolis? How do you create a new local network? And if you stay close to home, believe it or not, there are other benefits, aside from getting to sleep in your own bed. Hear from state film commissions, regional distribution tours, and filmmakers working in and outside of the American filmmaking hubs about how they’re making films happen. We’ll discuss production incentives, local vendors and support services, and experienced cast and crew; in other words, how to build and sustain a supportive community with whom you can both create and work.
Ward Emling (Director, Mississippi Film Office, MODERATOR)
Andrew Corkin (Producer, An Oversimplification of Her Beauty)
Teresa Hollingsworth (Senior Program Director, South Arts)
Chris Ohlson (Producer, The Happy Poets, Lovers of Hate)
Jerry Stoeffhaas (Deputy Director, New York State Governor’s Office for Motion Picture and Television Development)
Keynote: Glen Basner, FilmNation Entertainment
Production, film sales, and distribution. All are equally important to the film industry in their own ways. It may seem impossible that one can do all three of these things, but that is exactly what Glen Basner has done with FilmNation Entertainment – a global, full-service film company. With such a diverse set of skills offered by one name, FilmNation has been able to work with some of the most-renowned filmmakers working today including Terrence Malick and Pedro Almodóvar, and with films from exciting emerging filmmakers including Jeff Nichols’ “Mud” and J.C. Chandor’s upcoming “All is Lost.” Glen Basner, who founded the company in 2008, will discuss what FilmNation means for the film industry, and what more he hopes to accomplish in the future.
Anthony Bregman (Founder, Likely Story, MODERATOR)
Glen Basner (CEO, FilmNation)
Day 4: #ArtistServices Workshop NYC Presented by Sundance Institute
Soft Money, Uncle Sam, Equity and Crowdfunding
It’s all about The Benjamins, The Bucks, and The Chedda’ in this first-ever roundtable debate about the state of hybrid funding in independent film. We’ll stay focused on tax implications for crowdfunders, soft money options for producers, and the emergence of new online equity opportunities. Our lively experts will further explore how they all fit together and get you thinking in new directions about how to fund your own work.
Joseph Beyer (Director of Digital Initiatives, Sundance Institute, MODERATOR)
Colin Brown (Editorial Director, Slated)
Dianne Debicella (Senior Program Director, Fiscal Sponsorship, Fractured Atlas)
Robert Fingerman (CPA & President, Independent Films Production Consultants)
Cameron Keng (Founder, Autotax.me)
Mynette Louie (President, Gamechanger Films)
Dive in as Dolby Laboratories’ Graef Allen and theatrical booker Michael Tuckman take us on a crash course in the workings of digital cinema mastering and distribution. This presentation is NOT for the faint of heart but filmmakers with the gusto to do their research about mastering and distribution options will reap significant rewards from this deep dive.
Graef Allen (Manager, Content Services, Dolby Laboratories)
Michael Tuckman (Founder, mTuckman Media)
Joseph Beyer (Director of Digital Initiatives, Sundance Institute, MODERATOR)
What we love right now: David Larkin of GoWatchIt.com
GoWatchIt.com connects movies with audiences in new and exciting ways. Their universal queue system allows fans to register for notifications to track favorite films as they become available to watch in theatres and On-Demand platforms. Find out how to utilize this innovative platform to connect fans to your film and your release strategy, and best of all – it’s FREE.
David Larkin (CEO, GoWatchIt.com)
Strategy to Know: How “Sound City” Broke the Windowing Barrier
Dave Grohl’s debut film, “Sound City”, was one of the best received docs at this year’s Sundance and SXSW Film Festivals. It’s also one of the better self-distribution case studies of the year—the film has topped the iTunes charts since debuting. How did they do it? And if they had the chance, would they do it again, or would they sell it to a distributor? Find out as Jim Rota and John Ramsay, the film’s producers, sit with Sundance’s Chris Horton to discuss.
Chris Horton (Associate Director; #ArtistServices, Sundance Institute, MODERATOR)
John Ramsay (Producer, Sound City)
Jim Rota (Producer, Sound City)
Creative Convo: Designing Key Art for the Digital Marketplace
Admit it: You judge a movie by its poster. There’s a lot of mystery when producers begin working with graphic designers and distributors to create and master their Key Art Package. Learn the best practices for achieving that beautiful set of promotional graphics you’ll need to distribute your film into theaters, digital retailers and on-demand platforms and explore both the process and the specifics of how to make your key art hit the sweet-spot.
Joseph Beyer (Director of Digital Initiatives, Sundance Institute, MODERATOR)
Cory McAbee (Director, American Astronaut, Crazy & Thief)
Madeleine Olnek (Director, The Foxy Merkins)
Zak Soreff (EVP & Creative Director, Sawyer Studios)
Ryan Werner (Marketing and Publicity Consultant)
Direct to Fan is not a new concept, it’s a new movement. Learn how to circumvent all traditional distribution barriers and take your creative work directly to your fan base. We’ll help you understand the concepts and technology that are fueling the releases of such films as “Bones Brigade: An Autobiography” and turning the industry on its head (yet again).
Chris Horton (Associate Director; #Artist Services, Sundance Institute, MODERATOR)
Steven Beckman (Head of Content Partnerships, FilmBuff)
Debra Fisher (Global Director of Digital Sales, Cinedigm)
Adam Klaff (Business Development, VHX)
William Mainguy (CEO & Founder, Reelhouse)
Day 5: Re:Invent
Made in NY Media Center Panel
The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and IFP have partnered to create the Made in New York Media Center by IFP, a brand-new facility in DUMBO, Brooklyn, opening in October 2013. The center will be dedicated to assisting storytellers through co-working, continuing education, and by connecting them to technologists, entrepreneurs, and industry resources in our state-of-the-art facility. Hear more about the space and its programs in this exclusive conversation.
Eugene Hernandez (Director of Digital Strategy, Film Society of Lincoln Center)
Nicholas Fortugno (Co-Founder, Playmatics)
Brad Hargreaves (Co-Founder, General Assembly)
Brent Hoff (Programming Director, Made in NY Media Center by IFP)
Joana Vicente (Executive Director, IFP)
Blitz Wisdom: Debika Shome (Harmony Institute) on Big Data
Big Data is the big news lately. And the Harmony Institute are critical researchers of how film and television have real impact on individuals and society – from “The Walking Dead” to health care documentaries. Hear how you can use this kind of research to make your projects have a greater effect.
Debika Shome (Deputy Director, Harmony Institute)
Neorealist & Hybrid Documentaries
With so many filmmakers pushing the boundaries of truth and fiction in their works, we’ll discuss the newly revitalized forms of the neorealist narrative feature and the dreamlike non-fiction feature. Hear from some filmmakers working in these realms about their works, and the kinds of creative choices they’re making when they are crafting their films, working with non-actors, and constructing scenes.
David Wilson (Co-Conspirator, True/False Film Festival)
Lofty Nathan (Director, 12 O’Clock Boys)
Damon Russell (Director, Snow On the Bluff)
Lynne Sachs (Director, Your Day is My Night)
Tim Sutton (Director, Pavilion)
Social Capital: You’re Richer Than You Think
Social capital is the goodwill and excitement generated by your network of invested friends, family and fans. It can help your projects earn wider audiences — but how much can it do toward creating financial success? What are the practical limits of the word of mouth? Is social capital always necessary to create a successful independent film — or to be a filmmaker? We’ll discuss and debate the importance of social capital with some of the forward-thinking creatives who maintain artistic integrity while making the most of their fanbases.
Dana Harris (Editor in Chief, Indiewire, MODERATOR)
Emily Best (CEO, Seed and Spark)
Brian Newman (Founder & CEO Sub-Genre Media)
Jon Reiss (Director, Bomb It 2)
Keynote: DJ Spooky
In today’s world in which the definition of storytelling is ever-changing, creative versatility can be a necessity. Wearing as many hats as he does and with such constant experimentation with the boundaries of art and storytelling, DJ Spooky is true artist of the 21st century. With our final Conference event, we’ll look towards the future of storytelling with someone who’s already ahead of the curve.
David Hershkovits (Editor in Chief, Paper Magazine, MODERATOR)
DJ Spooky (Multimedia Artist)