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Greetings!
Can you believe that another month has flashed by us again? It seems like just a few days ago that we sent out our last newsletter and now it is time to do it again.
During the past month the legislature has finally passed HB 1180 and it is waiting to go to the Governor for his signature that will make the changes to the Performance Based Film Incentive program state law.
The changes this year are small but significant. The changes remove the requirement that a production company spend 75% of the production's below the line budget in Colorado and lower the local hire requirement from 75% to 25% making it easier for companies to qualify for the program if there are only filming a small portion of the project in Colorado. Also, included in the bill are changes that now includes television commercials as a qualifying production for the incentive.
We are waiting on a date for the bill signing and we will let you know when and where it will take place as soon as the details are worked out. But we are expecting the signing to be in the next several weeks. At the same time the Governor will also sign new Art in Public Places legislation and a bill that will create the new Office of Creative Industries as part of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade and the Film Office will become part of that new division. We are excited about the focus this division will have on the entire creative process and not just small portions of the creative industries. Also, this month the Film Office partnered with several communities around the state to participate in the 25th Annual Locations Trade Show in Santa Monica, California. There is a story on the show below but
I would like to personally thank the communities that partnered with us on the show because without their participation we would not have been as successful as we were promoting all of Colorado during the three days of the event. Also, in this edition you will find information on up coming classes that will be useful to members of the production community, stories about upcoming film festivals and other information about what is happening in Colorado.
I hope you enjoy the issue and would like to remind you that if you have something that is of interest to the production community please sent it to us and we will try to get in an up coming issue. Happy Filming! Kevin Shand Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media |
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Colorado Film Offices Connect with Potential Productions at Locations Trade Show in Santa Monica |
Front row: (L to R) Tim Territo (Telluride Film Commission) & Laura Grey (Colorado Office of Film, Television & Media). Back row: Bill Warner (Southern Colorado Film Commission) John Cohen (Durango Area Tourism Office), Kevin Shand (Colorado Office of Film, Television & Media) and Kim Farin (Boulder County Film Commission). |
The highly anticipated 25th anniversary of the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) Locations Trade Show recently completed its annual three-day run in Santa Monica. This year the show welcomed nearly 3,800 film industry professionals for a variety of meetings and presentations about film incentives and location filming around the globe. The Locations Trade Show is the longest-running gathering of location filmmakers in the world.
Attending the show this year on behalf of Colorado was Kim Farin (Boulder), John Cohen (Durango), Tim Territo (Telluride), Biller Warner (Alamosa), Laura Grey and Kevin Shand (Colorado Office of Film, Television & Media).
During the show the Colorado group made hundreds of contacts with location scouts, location managers, producers, directors, and others looking for locations for their feature films, television shows, commercials and other projects. The group is hopeful of bringing productions to Colorado as a direct result of their activity at the show.
"During the show I was talking with a Los Angeles based location scout who was actively looking for several locations for a national car commercial. When he showed us his match photos we had exactly what he was looking for," stated Tim Territo with the Telluride Film Commission.
Laura Grey, the Locations Specialist for the Office of Film, Television & Media noted that she had several requests for mines, trains and a variety of rural and metro types of locations.
"This was my first year at the show and I was happy to see the quality of conversations that we had with small feature films and television shows that are looking for Colorado locations," Grey stated. "I will be following up with many of the people we met at the show and will be providing them additional information about Colorado, our infrastructure and crew base.".
The number of new and returning exhibitors at the show held steady from last year's record setting event with 240-plus exhibitors from more than 30 countries showcasing a wide variety of locations, financial incentives, co-production programs, local resources, and service providers worldwide. In addition to spotlighting thousands of locations around the globe, show organizers tailored this year's program to address the needs of a budget-conscious entertainment industry. The show attracted representatives from the major studios, large production companies, independent filmmakers and commercial production houses.
The Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) is the global professional organization whose members are film commissioners that assist film, television, and video production throughout the world. It is a non-profit educational association whose network of members serves as city, county, state, regional, provincial, or national film commissioners for their respective governmental jurisdictions. |
Colorado Actors, Scripts & Films To Hold "Mass Focus" On May 8 |
The Colorado Actors, Scripts and Film group will be holding their next "Mass Focus" on May 8 at the Bug Theater from 12:30 to 4 p.m.
Event co-organizer Haylar Garica, says that they have "a stunning line up for the May MASS FOCUS, including a very cool guest speaker who brings a unique perspective about voice acting both commercial and narrative. So voice over actors, make sure to attend!" Guest Speaker -- Uncle Nasty Greg Stone (AKA KBPI's UNCLE NASTY) is known for his gruff vocalizations and quick edgy sense of humor, but off the radio, he has been the voice of many commercials and taken the reigns as narrator on many television programs & documentaries. He is currently expanding his horizons to film acting. Stone will be on hand to talk about voice acting and his views and advice on pursuing the profession. The remaining of the Mass Focus will cover feature films, "scene work", "the scene autopsy", "in the moment" and networking opportunities. The Bug Theater is located at 3654 Navajo Street in Denver. You can learn more about the Bug by logging on to www.bugtheatre.org. |
On Location: Pawnee Buttes |
Frontier families and their settlements once littered the area now known as The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland (ARP) in North central Colorado. Approximately 6 million settlers headed west with the passing of the Homestead Act in 1890. Now forests and grassland encompass 1.5 million acres and extend north to the Wyoming border, south of Interstate 70 to Mount Evans, west across the Continental Divide to the Williams Fork area and includes short grass prairie east of I-25.
The buttes themselves can be a little tricky to find. And As always with national, state or city parks, give plenty of time for the permit process to secure the location for your next production; or remove all the headaches and hire a local scout/manager. The impact that this location could lend to any type of shoot is evident from first sight. But with various bird populations nesting, private property abutments and the remoteness of the locale, a professional who will make sure everything runs smoothly is a small expense in the end. The buttes are located about 13 miles south of the Wyoming border north of CO 14. Keep in mind that dusk and dawn are wonderful times to be out on the grasslands-there's great lighting for photographs and filming and the wildlife is more active.
A large array of wind turbines belonging to the Cedar Creek Wind Energy Project reach to the horizon to the North of the buttes lending a modern and almost surreal quality to the view. This wild, remote and magnificent landscape is a true visual representation of the new and old West converging in time and place. To find a Colorado scout or other crew visit www.cprgonline.com For information and a specific map of the Weld County access roads, call 970-353-5004 or visit www.fs.fed.us/r2/arnf |
Movie + theater. Live + recorded. You + me. Art + life. |
 There's art in the theater all around you. And at FLIC you don't need 3-D glasses to see it.
FLIC (food, libation & independent cinema) is a 501(c)3 non-profit serving Boulder with an independent film series and variety show. From pre-show cocktails & cartoons to post-show entertainment, FLIC invites you in to the theater. FLIC goes further than most independent film series, pairing great independent movies with the best of Boulder's local artists & live performers, served up alongside local food, wine and beer. So come down early to catch cocktails & cartoons and let the emcee usher you into the art. Along the way you might get the chance to join your neighbor in a brilliant kazoo chorus or find out that one of you couldn't carry a tune in a bucket.
FLIC brings to Boulder an evening of independent film and entertainment that's as singularly engaging as the community itself. Unlike any other forum, FLIC:
- Combines performing arts with community, causes, and local cuisine & refreshments - all designed to complement a contemporary independent film.
- Brings together all corners of the Boulder community to showcase local artists, promote local businesses and explore human issues.
- Shifts the movie-going experience from passive & staid to engaging & interactive and exposes you to unfamiliar art forms in a fun, accessible and non-threatening format.
FLIC's co-founders, Emily Lawrence and Dan Spiegler, believe that a movie-going experience can be about more than box office receipts. FLIC's mission involves community-building through art, film and personal connection to both.
Movie theaters bring people together but discourage interaction by the sit-down, shut-up, watch-this & get-out ritual of today's googolplex. A FLIC event will break these boundaries by providing a platform for the young to be heard, the elderly to be included, local artists to be showcased, local businesses to be promoted and human issues to be explored.
FLIC's first season started with events scheduled on the last Wednesday of April, May and June at BMoCA (Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art) following the Farmer's Market. Doors open at 7:15 and the feature begins at 8pm. www.flicboulder.org/index.htm |
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Breckenridge Festival of Film June 10-13 |
For over a quarter century Breckenridge Film Festival has celebrated the art of filmmaking. Each spring a unique and varied array of independent films, premieres, receptions, educational programs and retrospectives honoring featured guests takes place high in the Colorado Rockies.
Nationally-known NBC-TV film critic and "Reel Talk" co-host Jeffrey Lyons serves as master of ceremonies and moderator of the discussions and forums. Jeffrey's son, Ben Lyons, co-hosts the Breckenridge Festival of Film. Ben Lyons is the E! Network's resident film expert and can be seen each week on The Daily 10.
The mission of the Breckenridge Film Festival is to enrich lives through the ideas and emotions inspired by the art of filmmaking. The Festival is also a means to celebrate independent filmmakers, enrich the cultural community of Summit County, Colorado, and provide a educational, creative and inspirational learning environment where participants can focus on their craft and interact intimately with guest filmmakers and mentors through a four-day annual film festival and throughout the year.
The Festival has hosted such guests as Alan Arkin, James Earl Jones, Robert Loggia, Marsha Mason, Sydney Pollack, Mary Steenburgen, Donald Sutherland, Eva Marie Saint, Jon Voight, Lou Diamond Phillips, Jon Favreau, Michael York and in 2005, Jo Beth Williams and Connie Nielsen. Educational outreach programs, children's films, celebrity guests, independent filmmaker forums and other events celebrating the art of film, contribute to the Festival's diverse program. The University of Colorado at Boulder also presents classic and foreign films with faculty members leading interrelated discussions. www.breckfilmfest.com |
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$40 Million Boost for Colorado Businesses |
Governor Ritter, Treasurer Kennedy and Colorado Housing and Financing Authority (CHFA) announced a $40 million boost for Colorado Businesses. The new lending programs will "give local businesses the tools they need to survive and ultimately thrive."
Highlights of the announcement were:
CHFA will make $30 million available to help manufacturers seeking loans of $2 million to $10 million for real estate acquisitions, renovations and equipment purchases.
CHFA will expand the manufacturing loan initiative by launching a new Mini Bond Program, making smaller loans of $500,000 to $2 million available to manufacturers with 50 employees or less.
What does this mean for Creative Industries? It could mean the opportunity to grow your business, acquire new real estate or manufacturing equipment. Loans can be made to finance working capital, lines of credit, real estate projects, and/or equipment purchases. Loans are limited to $500,000 or less. While this may not be a perfect fit for all creative industries, it is worth looking into if you are in the market for a loan to expand your current business.
Please see www.chainfo.com or call Alex Dempster, Commercial Lending, CHFA adempster@chfainfo.com
We are also working with CHFA to find creative ways to finance non-traditional loans, such as film financing. "Because CHFA uses bonds to fund its loans, credit standards are similar to commercial banks and loan uses are limited to building, land and equipment. In this realm, film and television productions are not currently qualifying for these guaranteed loans. We are having conversations with CHFA and other traditional lenders to see how to more creatively serve this market," said Marcia Morgan, Business Development for the Office. marcia.morgan@state.co.us |
Castle Rock Film Festival Accepting Submissions |
The 2nd annual Castle Rock Film Festival (CRFF), to be held October 1-3, 2010 in Castle Rock, is accepting submissions for films, actor reels, film trailers, and screenplays. All filmmakers, actors, and screenwriters residing in, or films produced in, the Rocky Mountain region (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, UT, and WY) are eligible for this exclusive festival.
CRFF's mission is to provide a competition as well as promote filmmaking, screenwriting, education, and invaluable networking contacts with filmmakers, screenwriters, crew members, actors and other film-oriented people in the region.
All submitters have the benefit of CRFF's unique guarantees: a) every film/screenplay will be watched/read in its entirety, and b) they will be provided with in-depth, confidential judging feedback.
Student Films ($25): must be a high school or college student with valid id. The film length is 30 minutes or less. No films that have been posted on-line. (Increases to $30 in June; and $35 in July). Short Films ($35): Any non-student, narrative or documentary films that are 30 minutes or less in length. (Increases to $45 in June and $55 in July) Feature Films ($45): Any narrative or documentary feature, considered commercial or not, between 50 and 110 minutes in length. (Increases to $55 in June and $65 in July). Scripts (Feature length only) ($30): Any narrative or documentary feature script, considered commercial or not, between 50 and 110 minutes/pages in length. Hard copies only. (Increases to $40 in June and $50 in July). Trailers / Actor Reels ($10): This option is for anyone who wants to promote their full-length feature film, but aren't prepared to submit the actual film at this time, or for those who want to promote their acting talent. The trailer / reel will be shown during the festival's Friday night Meet-and-Greet "Trailer Park" party. The length must be at least 1 and no more than 2 minutes, including any credits. Trailers / reels will not be judged, and must be rated G or PG. Actor's who previously submitted a reel to the CRFF are welcome to submit again. (Increases to $15 in June and $20 in July) Please visit www.castlerockfilmfestival.com for more information |
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Boulder Digital Arts Opens New Production Studio |
 Though shooting on-location can result in great imagery, there are many situations where shooting in a studio can help you get a better product. Whether you're shooting video or photo, having the controlled environment of a professional studio can make your life a lot easier! Here in Colorado we are fortunate enough to have several professional studios in the Front Range and we are glad to announce adding another to the list. BDA has opened an inexpensive place that can be rented by the hour, so producers, videographers, web designers, and photographers can all work on their projects in a professional space.
The Studio is open exclusively to members of BDA, and is available at rates as low as $35 an hour! Whether you need to videotape an interview or shoot stills of a product, this new studio is the perfect place to make it happen. And if you need equipment, they've teamed up with Alpine A/V and Light Factory to provide a wide range of professional production, lighting, and grip equipment. With their special arrangement, it will be available at special discounted rental rates to BDA members using the space. This is professional gear - not Home Depot tungsten lights! The gear ranges from HMI's to Kino-Flos, from doorway dollies to C-stands. Go the their Web site for a complete listing of gear. The Production Studio is available for rent 7 days a week from 9am to 9pm but reservations are always required. www.boulderdigitalarts.com |
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Boulder Digital Arts Offers New Classes and Spaces |
Boulder Digital Arts has opened a new, 3,000-square foot space and expanded its class offerings to serve a more diverse group of digital arts professionals, students and professionals.
Located at 1600 Range St. in Boulder, Boulder Digital Arts will boast many new features, including a state-of-the-art digital classroom; a digital lounge to meet, work and collaborate from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays; five office rentals for creative professionals; low-cost access to a computer lab featuring the latest video and photo-editing hardware and software; and space for meetings and social events.
BDA plans to offer a more diverse array of classes at its new building, catering to digital professionals, students, hobbyists and others in the creative community from Boulder County and beyond. Watch for a number of new digital video production and photography classes in the new space, as well as the new week-long Transitions Certificate Program for professionals shifting into new digital arenas. www.boulderdigitalarts.com |
Women+Film Screening: Babies |
 The St. Anthony Health Foundation in conjunction with the Denver Film Society's Women+Film program will be hosting a Citywide Baby Shower at 7:00 pm, Tuesday, May 4th at the Starz FilmCenter to benefit Bloom, a comprehensive prenatal care program created by the Certified Nurse-Midwives at St. Anthony Central Hospital. Participants will enjoy a sneak-peek presentation of BABIES which will be followed by a reception at 8:30pm with wine and beer, cheese and crackers. Admission is free with a baby shower gift valued at $15 or higher. Tickets may be picked up and donations may be dropped off at Real Baby at 3616 W. 32nd Ave. Denver 80211. A list of needed baby shower items can be found at online at: www.realbabyinc.com or in store at Real Baby 3616 W. 32nd Ave. Denver 80211. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Thomas Balmès, from an original idea by producer Alain Chabat, Babies simultaneously follows four babies around the world - from birth to first steps. The children are, respectively, in order of on-screen introduction: Ponijao, who lives with her family near Opuwo, Namibia; Bayarjargal, who resides with his family in Mongolia, near Bayanchandmani; Mari, who lives with her family in Tokyo, Japan; and Hattie, who resides with her family in the United States, in San Francisco. Get your tickets here. |
"Dig In" cooks up a niche on KDVR (Denver Post) |
By Joanne Ostrow
The downsizing and cost-cutting at local TV stations has resulted in more creative, entrepreneurial ideas hitting the airwaves, with benefits for viewers seeking original and relevant local programming.
The sponsors are getting something out of it, too.
One new local TV show, called "Dig In," takes on the popular garden-to-kitchen eating fad, which makes sense for a number of environmental, economic and nutritional reasons. The show, hosted by Blaine Howerton and Whei Wong, airs at 6:30 a.m. Saturdays on KDVR-Channel 31.
Howerton and Wong met when they worked at KDVR. He was in news production and operations. She was a reporter for five years. They left before the buyout and layoff purge.
Howerton and Wong teamed with Nick Arnold, who was then also at KWHD, to form their own production company, Yellow Gal High Definition. (Wong means "yellow" in Chinese.) Read more. |
Loveland Silver Spoon Student Film Festival May 8th |
The Loveland Cultural Services Department will host the 11th annual Silver Spoon Film Festival for Northern Colorado student filmmakers at the Rialto Theater, 228 E. Fourth St., at 6 p.m. May 8. The evening will provide a showcase of student films, brief question-and-answer sessions with the filmmakers and an awards ceremony for winners hosted by Derek Brown from 99.9 FM The Point. After the film showcase, cash awards will be given for the first-place, second-place and third-place overall films. For more information about the Silver Spoon Film Festival, call (970) 962-2410. For more information about tickets, call the Rialto Theater Box Office at (970) 962-2120 or visit www.cityofloveland.org and click on Rialto Theater. |
Impossible does Rebrand for Military Channel |
 The Military Channel is the latest network to go the rebranding route with assistance for leading design and effects studio Impossible. Seen in over 55 million households, the Military Channel covers a lot of ground, featuring shows about history, technology, courage and long-held military traditions. The rebrand involved a 6 day shoot in Colorado focusing on iconographic images that would convey the message of what the Military Channel represents. This rapid-fire montage provides a look at the breadth of the mission. |
  Colorado Office of Film, Television and MediaA division of the Office of Economic Development
and International Trade
1625 Broadway Street, 27th Floor
Denver, Colorado 80202
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