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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear MCAers:
Now that the Leadership Conference is over, MCA is taking a break, sort of.
The June meeting was the Mini MCA ProCamp, AVI Demonstration, and Switch Presentation, PLUS Screenings and the July meeting is the 2012 Big Bash at The Fox hosted by Yellow-Tie, Connecting Hands and The Fabulous Fox Theatre on Thursday, July 12. See Mike Ketcher's article for additional information.
So, what does the MCA have planned for the coming year? Some really exciting and innovative meetings and some beloved old favorites!
The two biggest new meeting we are planning are Corporate Video Awards Extravaganza and Speed Internship Fair.
The Corporate Video Awards Extravaganza is basically a "film and media festival" just for corporate films, videos, and media. There will be judges, an entry fee, a screening, and award statuettes!
Another new meeting will be an Speed Internship Fair, which will be like a Job Fair, but geared to match media and film students with appropriate businesses, and we'll add the twist of making it like speed dating, only it's speed interviewing!
The MCA will also have a Trivia Night on September 22, and in addition to movie and sports media coverage trivia, we might have a category on local corporate media! I think you get the picture! It going to be all about movies with some local film and media scene questions to spice it up! Maybe. We haven't written the questions yet!
For late summer and early autumn, we are planning meetings on Music Videos which should draw a crowd and on Local Programing which will include both cable and web programming.
We will also hold our regular Pre-Film Festival meeting, and FYI, the Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF) will be held Nov. 8-18, 2012. So our meeting will probably be the Wednesday November 7. In addition to local filmmakers, we are planning to invite any out of town filmmakers and celebrities to speak or just hang out.
Of course, we'll have our regular December Party to thank all the members, regularly-attending non-members, and friends for supporting MCA St. Louis with memberships or just attending meetings. It's always fun, and I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!
For 2013, the MCA Board of Directors, who by the way plan and organize all these meetings, is also talking about meetings on New Media and a Student PSA Contest. We'll also hold our regular State of the Industry meeting and the NAB Wrap Up in the Spring.
So we plan to be back to our regular meeting schedule in August, and I do mean regular because I know the meetings being at different dates and times throw even our schedules into a tailspin. However, sometimes it can't be avoided: With April's SAG/AFTRA meeting, Kathy Byrne had a conflict with our regular date, and with June's Leadership Conference and ProCamp, AVI and Switch meeting, the MCA Board didn't feel right about having two meetings in one month.
Sincerely,
Sandra Olmsted
MCA-i President, St. Louis Chapter
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MAY MCA MEETING IN REVIEW
Bad Dog Pictures, on Kingshighway in South St. Louis, hosted the May MCA-I St. Louis Chapter meeting on new Digital Technology and NAB afterglow.
Ginger Routh, AVI Systems, discussed Cloud editing and new, affordable Sennheiser mics. These are small wireless mics that solve a number of micing problems. While Avid Cloud editing sounds very exciting, and Ginger explained it well, it was hard to "show" anything because, well, it is all OUT IN THE CLOUDS, but it sure will be interesting to see if the idea of having the files you are editing in the Cloud takes off. Ginger also discussed several developments she was expecting to see come out of the NAB but didn't. She also briefly chronicled her move from Roscor to AVI.
Ben Scolle, chair of Lindenwood University's Digital Cinema Arts Department, brought in the new RED Epic camera. He shared with the group that RED has delivered what they have promised, and the wait for upgrades and product is worth it. Also, he added that push to shoot on DSLR cameras seems to be taking flight, but it takes us back to recording sound separately. Check this out on the Canon and Nikon cameras:
Ed Voss, LUTV Director of Operations, shared his recent visit to the 2012 NAB Show in Las Vegas. Voss mentioned the new Blackmagic digital camera system, which won't hit the market until July, and the astounding use of miniature helicopters that fly with small cameras for dramatic effect. Voss also talked about Archival Systems, which seemed pricey for now. Voss said that the NAB is always worth attending to be up on the newest and greatest advances in equipment.
Ken Calcaterra, a freelance producer, director, and photographer, carried in and set up his digital camera, the Sony NEXFS100. For the work that he does--interviews, corporate video, and promos, the camera does a fantastic job for the price. Shooting in slo-mo and quick motion with the FS100, says Calcaterra, is easy and smooth.
Tom Petrie, an icon in St. Louis television, film, and corporate video business, and owner and operator of Bad Dog Pictures, introduced his new, impressive Talon System, a high quality compact pan and tilt camera head complete with frame-accurate repeatability and time-lapse capabilities. Although not part of his rental business yet, the Talon is exciting and cutting edge for St. Louis. And that's what Bad Dog is all about. Bad Dog was one of the first to own an HD camera in the area. He likes to test the equipment thoroughly before he puts it out for rental or sales.
As the night wound down, Petrie and the always entertaining Phil Nadeau, Sales and Rental Manager, took attendees on tours and showed off some exceptional equipment that most West Coast and East Coast production people are asking for when they come to River City to shoot. Check out the Apple Boxes within an Apple Box.
Afterwards, many of us mustered over to O'Connell's for a classic burger and whatever. AFTERGLOW FUN!
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JOIN THE MCA AT ST. LOUIS' BIGGEST BUSINESS NETWORKING EVENT: THE BIG BASH ON JULY 12!
The Big Bash -- St. Louis' premeire business networking event -- will be bigger than ever this year. It will held indoors, at the Fox Theatre in midtown St. Louis. The event is being held indoors, so there will be no worries about excessive heat, rain, or tornadoes. What's more, parking will be FREE, safe, and close by at the Fox's parking lots.
For the third 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, Metropolis - St. Louis, and the Missouri Venture Forum, among others.
The cost is only $20 online ($30 at the door). That includes all the beer, wine, and food you want -- and the Fox is providing the food, so you know it will be delicious. Those who attended last year gave the event rave reviews. It's a great opportunity to meet and mingle with people, not only in your own industry, but outside of it.
Several St. Louis television stations likely will be covering the event. If there's ever been a must-attend business networking event in St. Louis, this is it. You'll have the chance to meet and mingle with hundreds of others.
To register -- and get the low $20 ticket -- simply go to www.bigbash.org. Be sure to select Media Communications Association when you scroll through the list of sponsoring organizations, and then follow the prompts to get to the great $20 rate. You can pay using any major credit card. All funds will go to cover the costs of the event, and any extra will go to a local charity.
Parking is available FREE at the Fox Theatre's parking lots, which are on Washington Street, just west of Grand. You'll receive an e-mail just before the event which will have all the information.
Business attire -- meaning whatever you wear to work -- is the dress of the day. So, anything from shorts to suits is appropriate. Reserve your spot today, and be part of the premier business-connection event of the season!
DATE: Thursday, July 12
PLACE: Fox Theatre, 527 N. Grand Blvd, St. Louis, 63103
TIME: 5:30 PM until 8:00 PM
COST: $20 in advance; $30 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 Tuesday, July 10, so make your reservations now!
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MEMBERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Mike Ketcher just wrapped as line producer on a feature-length documentary, Envisioning Home: The Jean King and Richard Baron Story. The film, which shot in St. Louis, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, and San Francisco, explores the personalities and accomplishments of two visionaries in public housing. CLICK HERE for more information on the film.
Mike reports that the feature film he worked on last year, Call Me On Tuesday, which was produced by Srikant Chellappa, co-produced by Judee Sauget, and co-produced and directed by Jack Snyder, played at the Cannes Film Market in May. However, the title of the film has been changed by the distributor, and it is now Fatal Call. It stars Hollywood veterans Kevin Sorbo, Jason London, and Danielle Harris. Mike worked on the film as associate producer, production
coordinator, St. Louis casting director, and as an actor.
CLICK HERE to see a trailer for the film. Mike is also producing a documentary on the Joplin tornado, one of the worst tornadoes in history. It is being co-produced by Donny Blake and directed by Chip Gubera. George Noory, host of Coast-to-Coast AM, the second largest talk show in the U.S., narrates the film. CLICK HERE to see the trailer. Mike also reports that he recently cast -- and acted in -- a patient education video for the Siteman Cancer Center at BJC Hospital. |
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Now Forming a video production meet-up group focused on animators, compositors and editors of Saint Louis, MO to be called ACE
Glenn Wolk is forming a new group of CGI Enthusiasts to take (St. Louis home grown talent) to the next level. It will be call VAC's ACES. ACE stands for Animators, Compositors, Editors.
Organizing & First FREE Introductory meeting:
DATE:Wednesday, June 20
TIME: 6:30 - 9:00 pm
PLACE: Avatar Studios / Pickett Productions
2675 Scott Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 533-2242
Goals:
- learn and use industry standard software tools. (Lightwave 3D Modeler, Layout, Adobe CS6 After Effects Premium Production Bundle, Speed Edit).
- create professional short films (5 minutes)
- promote Saint Louis in the national/international video/TV production markets
- build production teams
Benefits:
- improving and expanding skills & knowledge
- resume building and self-promotion
- networking with video production professionals
- top performers participate in more advanced projects
12 seminars to complete film
(Sign up now to reserve your seat.)
Membership $45 a month.
Requirement: Must have your own Laptop or Mobile Workstation because all work will be performed on your on machine so you can take your work home with you.
See Glenn Wolk of Video Assistance Company's V.A.C. User Group to purchase all software and Hewlett Packard computers. Any assignments will be completed and brought to following months meeting.
For more information please contact Glenn at
636-467-2428 or www.glennwolk.com
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