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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Greetings Everyone!
What a great meeting last month! We had two really great speakers, Mike Murdock and Wyatt Weed.
Mike from 90 Degrees West gave us a short presentation on digital special effects, and some really great pointers on how to shape your film around effects when using them. I was particularly impressed with how he explained how studying the emotion of the scene with use of color will really make a scene work and how we use imperfections to make an object look real. Thanks, Mike, for an impressive presentation and we wish you the best of luck when you head west for your master's program.
Most of the evening was spent with Wyatt Weed who went into great detail on how to create special effects on a low budget using practical and everyday in camera tricks as well as garbage mats and post production tricks. We will never look at toy rocket ships and model train sets the same way, now that we know they were really made for movie magic! Thanks Wyatt for a wonderful workshop that was interesting and informative, we are so thrilled to have you around as part of the film community, your passion is inspiring and we always gain for your expertise in the field.
This month was a fun month for film making as many of us were participating in the 48 hour film project. It was one of the hottest weekends, but we stocked up the coolers and headed out to make movies. The participating films screened at the Tivoli on June 7, 8 and 9 and the Best of the 48 screened on June 16th. Congratulations to everyone who participated, even those who turned in films a little late - you all accomplished a lot. Look what you did in two days!
This month, board member Sandra Olmsted and I co-wrote and co-directed a film called The Inheritance as part of the Dreamscapes event for the Pulitzer Foundation. The film had to be five minutes or less and incorporate dreams in some way, using only images - no sound or music was allowed. I'm pleased to announce that we were one of the films chosen to screen at the Pulitzer on June 24th! And our film was also chosen to be a part of The St. Louis Filmmaker's Showcase in August.
MCA doesn't have a meeting in July, but we are participating in Yellow Tie, a huge networking event taking place in Forest Park. MCA will have a booth there, so make sure you register under our name and stop by and give us a hello while you are there networking. You don't want to miss this event. Check out this information below and sign up on their website, make sure you register under MCA. There will be drinks and food provided at the event, what a deal.
Hope to see you there!
Vanessa Roman
MCA-i President, St. Louis Chapter
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NEXT MCA MEETING IS A NETWORKING EVENT - JULY 21
On Thursday, July 21, hundreds of St. Louis business professionals, from at least a dozen different organizations, will gather at the famous Cabanne House in Forest Park to eat, drink, and exchange business cards. The host of the event is the St. Louis Ambassadors.
For the second year in a row, the MCA is joining forces with other professional groups taking part in the Big Bash. These groups include the St. Louis chapter of Yellow-Tie International, Public Relations Society of America, the American Marketing Association, and the Missouri Venture Forum, among others.
The cost is only $15 ($20 at the door) -- the same price as last year. That includes all the beer, wine, and food you want, as well as some superb local musical entertainment. Those who attended last year gave this event rave reviews. It's a great opportunity to meet and mingle with people, not only in your own industry, but outside of it.
The event will be held, rain or shine. If there is bad weather, we'll simply gather in tents and inside the historic Cabanne House. Several St. Louis television stations will be covering the event. If there's ever been a must-attend business networking event in St. Louis, this is it.
To register -- and get the low $15 ticket -- simply go to www.bigbash.org.
Scroll down the list of participating organizations, click on the circle in front of Media Communications Association, scroll down and fill in the company name you want on your nametag, then scroll down again and click on the yellow "Pay Now" tab. You can pay using any major credit card. All funds will go to pay for costs of the event, and any extra will go to a local charity.
Parking is available on Lindell and in Forest Park. You'll receive an e-mail just before the event which will have information on a shuttle bus to nearby parking lots.
Business attire -- meaning whatever you wear to work -- is the dress of the day, as this is mostly an outdoor event. Reserve your spot today, and be part of the premier business-connection event of the season!
DATE: Thursday, July 21
PLACE: Cabanne House, 5300 Lindell Blvd. (near Union), Forest Park, 63112
TIME: 5:30 PM until 9:00 PM
COST: $15 in advance; $20 at the event
To sign up in advance, or to find out more, go to www.bigbash.org. Advance registration will end at 5:00 PM on Tueday, July 19, so make your reservations now!
See you there !!
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MO FILM OFFICE CLOSES - SHOULD WE REVIVE THE ST. LOUIS FILM COMMISSION? by Michael Ketcher
The Missouri Film Office (MFO) lost its funding, as Governor Jay Nixon used his line-item-veto to eliminate the MFO from the state budget, thwarting the will of the state legislature.
In this article, I'd like to offer some my own thoughts and opinions on what the industry can expect in the future -- and the best course of action from here on, particularly on creating a new St. Louis Film Office (SLFO).
I've talked with or e-mailed several industry leaders from around-the-state over the last few days, hoping to get their take on the situation. It's a dismal situation, but even more dismal is that the state's Department of Economic Development (DED), which is under the governor's office, has also be reluctant to grant sufficient tax credits for films, hurting the state's reputation throughout the industry.
Nevertheless, there are ways to counteract, at least to some extent, the damagethat is being done at the state level, especially if the industry pulls together.
One important step would be to revive the SLFO. The SLFO has been largely dormant for the past decade, and I've heard some rumblings and rumors that it may be revived to some extent. If done properly, it could be a great asset to
the film industry here. It might be best to follow, at least somewhat, the model of the Film Commission of Greater Kansas City (FCOGK). It has a local production guide and
an online location guide with well over 200 photos. A location directory would be something we could accomplish, as well.
The FCOGK is not a government agency, but is set up as 501(c)(3) charitable organization. It is a partner with the Kansas City Visitors and Convention Association (CVA), which is funded largely by the city's hotel tax. The CVA provides office space and other services to FCOGK. Other funding comes through private donations, memberships, and ads on the web site.
If you google St. Louis Film Commission, you will get a link to a site run by the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission (CVC). It contains some links to a few touristy photos and links to the MFO's web site for a Production Guide, Tax Credit Application, and Permits. There are reports that the MO production guide, which contains information on local crew, will still be operational, but we have to wonder how longer that will continue and whether or not it will be properly maintained, given the current climate in Jefferson City regarding the film industry. Given the uncertainty, it would be good for St. Louis to have its own production guide, which would be one of the chief services offered by a new SLFO. A new, revamped SLFO could be a tremendous asset to the industry here.
Here are some of my own thoughts, along those lines:
-- It must be set up to help both union and non-union, talent and crew, in-state and out-of-state producers, small producers and large, commercial producers and indie filmmakers -- in short, it must be an responsive to and supportive of the entire industry.
-- Job notices must be posted. One of the problems with the MFO was that, unlike many other film commissions, it rarely posted job opportunities. Every production that comes into town, and seeks help from the new MFO, should be required to post its cast and crew notices.
-- Job notices must be posted. One of the problems with the MFO was that, unlike many other film commissions, it rarely posted job opportunities. Every production that comes into town, and seeks help from the new MFO, should be required to post its cast and crew notices.
-- The new MFO should be prohibited from recommending any particular individuals, companies, or vendors. If a production comes in town looking for a costumer, for example, then the MFO should be required to give the producer a list of all the costumers without recommendation for who the best costumer might be. The same procedure should be followed for all crew positions and vendors.
-- There will need to be substantial transparency. All board meetings should be open to anyone who wants to attend, with notice of such meetings given significantly in advance. Board membership should be broad and open. The FCOGKC has 25 board members -- quite large, but a broad spectrum of the local industry is represented on its board.
Obviously, there will need to be some confidentiality assured to producers, particularly large productions that want to keep their production out of the press until the appropriate time. There are ways to assure that confidentiality while still following the above policies and procedures.
Perhaps, the new SLFO will be run largely by volunteers.
Whoever is running the new film commission, if it is done in a spirit of cooperation and openness rather than secrecy, it will get the support of the entire industry in St. Louis, which is what it will need to succeed.
If you're interested in discussing this more, I invite to you write to me with your ideas. My e-mail address is michael_ketcher@yahoo.com , I would love to hear your own ideas on how the local industry can be improved!
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PRODUCTION NOTES
News from the MO Film Commission... Osage Beach-based reality series Ozark Auction ($OLD!) has been picked up by The History Channel for 10 episodes and Columbia's Beth Pike is in Joplin field producing for CBS' The Early Show... All this and more in this month's Show-Me Show-biz Bulletin. |
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Coming soon to a screen near you: Dr. CFW Walther!
Principal photography has just finished on the new "Walther" movie being produced by Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, a 5-part Bible Study that will follow the life of CFW Walther, a virtual history of the early Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Many key scenes were filmed at CHI's Saxon Lutheran Memorial in Frohna, Missouri, as well as at the Walther exhibit in the CHI headquarters in St. Louis. Other key scenes were filmed at the log cabin replica on the grounds of Concordia Seminary, and also in Clarksville, Missouri, Bonnots Mills, Missouri, as well as Clearwater, Florida.
The five-part DVD will include special video sessions by well-known Walther scholars and seminary professors (both St. Louis and Fort Wayne) including Dr. Gerhard Bode, Dr. Thomas Egger, Dr. Cameron MacKenzie, Dr. Thomas Manteufel, Dr. Lawrence Rast and Dr. William Schumacher. Viewers will travel from Wittenberg, Germany to Wittenberg, Missouri and will explore the theology of Rationalism versus Lutheranism, which the early church sought to escape; the theology of the Two Kingdoms; Luther and the Ten Commandments; plus the importance of repentance, confession and absolution. And CFW Walther's teachings on the invisible church, the visible church, and, of course, the Law and the Gospel, will also be explored. A special section will include interviews with current and former presidents of the LCMS and Concordia Seminaries, those walking in the footsteps of Walther: Rev. Matthew Harrison, Dr. Dale Meyer, Dr. Lawrence Rast, Dr. Gerald Keischnick, Dr. Robert Kuhn, Dr. Karl Barth, Dr. Ralph Bohlmann, Dr. John Johnson and Dr. Dean Wenthe.
By studying his life and teachings, students will gain a better understanding of the Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions on which Walther's teachings are based. Re-enactments of key scenes in Walther's life (with more than 150 actors!) will drive the video forward, and will include a new soundtrack composed by internationally renowned musician Peter Mayer, as well as new material by vocalist Erin Bode. This DVD series will be a great resource for pastors, schools and churches for use in Bibles Study groups, the High School classroom and confirmation classes. Your church can even host a movie night, making this a great outreach tool to the local community!
Walther! Coming in October, 2011! For more info visit www.waltherfilm.com
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