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In This Issue
Face it Comics...
10 Tips on Casting Your Film
Raindance Christmas Gifts
Raindance Canada
BIFA Tickets
Top Tweets
World AIDS Day
What not to do on Twitter
Film Specific
Review: Master Shots
Quick Links
Calendar
Raindance Shop
Shorts DVD

Tee's, Bags, Books, DVD's
New Raindance Book
Beginning Filmmaking
Out Now
Tips and Tricks
Film Reel
Indie Tips For Filmmakers
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Greetings!

Hello again, another week, another newsletter!

Happy Thanksgiving to all those on the far side of the Atlantic. We hope you have lovely weekend, keep an eye out for our Thanksgiving Weekend special coming out on Sunday.

We have a new course coming up at Raindance; The Apollo cinema will be hosting our 99-minute Film Directing School - all the crucial bits in just an hour and a half and for only £13!

In other news, the BIFAs (happening a week Sunday) and the state of the UK film industry are discussed in Variety; is public funding detrimental to our industry?

Read this, and old newsletters, online!
Face it comics, your gags are going to get nicked

Dave Cohen has worked as both a stand-up and a comedy writer; in this article he takes a good look and comedy theft and whether or not it's worth getting angry.

Dave Cohen teaches Write the Sitcom, Sell the Sitcom at Raindance on the 28th of November
Maverick Screenwriting

Screenwriting Every development executive says they're looking for 'original stories'.
But what does that really mean?

This course is about 'Maverick Screenwriting' - stories that dare to think outside the box.  For those who want to move beyond 3-Act structure - who see the world in a different way - who want to give their imaginations free rein, or who are just plain tired of naturalism - Maverick Screenwriting is for you.

Day One: Think Differently

Focus on freeing up your imagination, learning how to see and think differently about screenwriting.

Day Two: Practical Techniques

Discover the practical techniques that make Maverick Screenwriting work.  There will be lots of examples, interactive fun, and opportunities to reconceive your own ideas in startling new ways.

What?
Maverick Screenwriting
When? December 5/6
Where? Central London, TBC
How Much? £250 + VAT
Raindance Premium Members get a 15% Discount

Full Details and Book Online Here
10 Tips on Casting Your Film

It is important to get the right actors/actresses in your film; without them your characters will fall apart. But how do you find them without years of experience in the business? And what are the secrets of running a successful audition?

Find out in these 10 Tips on Casting Your Film
Short Film Project

Film Crew Silhouette With the arise of digital camera and editing, and the amount of actors out there, it is actually easier to make a short film, than explain to people why you haven't made it.

Two spaces have recently become available on this very popular course, we recommend you hurry to book a place.

The course will include:
  - An explanation of every crewmembers role from 1st AD to grip.
 - Hands on instruction on the use of camera and kit.
 - Hands on practical experience of each of the main, on-set shooting roles
 - Shooting actual scripted scenes with actual actors.
 - On set, coaching from a professional Cameraman and Director
 - On set discipline and shoot etiquette.

What?
Short Film Project
When? 8 - 12 December
Where? 10 Craven St Rehearsal Studios,
London WC2N 5PE, nearest tube Charing Cross
How Much? £325.00 + VAT
Raindance Premium Members get a 15% Discount

Full Details and Book Online Here
Raindance Christmas Gifts

Christmas-PresentStruggling to find a present for those near and dear?
Being bugged about what you want for Christmas?

We present the solution to your problems, the all new:

Raindance Gift Bags and Raindance Course Vouchers

Gift bags come in a range of prices but all contain fabulous Raindance goodies like t-shirts, books and membership packs.

Alternatively you can purchase a voucher for any amount, valid on all our courses.

Perfect for the independent filmmaker in your life
Raindance Canada

CanadaLynn Willis bids Adieu Lynn has been working tirelessly for Raindance Canada for 3 years now. We wish her the very best.

Read: 10 Canadian Filmmakers To watch in 2010

For current Canadian Film Festival Deadlines

Volunteers needed for Raindance Canada
Do you have a love of independent filmmaking? Do you have a few hours a week?
We are looking for someone to help out with our newsletter. Interested? Email info@raindancecanada.com
 
Eating Buccaneers keeps on growing!
Raindance Canada's Bill Keenan's film is now opening in Vancouver next Friday at Empire Granville Cinema

Support the film! A film's success is based on the first weekend's box office.

Read about Eating Buccaneers
Working the Net

Director Tony Kaye (American History X) will be discussing his processes with Peter Jenkinson OBE on Friday the 27th of November at Boiler House, 152 Brick Lane from 7-10pm. RSVP to nissancubestore@borkowski.co.uk

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Word Theatre presents Upheaval a literary salon featuring:
- Alfred Molina (An Education, Spiderman) performing "Nipple Jesus" by Nick Hornby
- Ian Hart (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) performing "Man in the Water" by Rose Tremain
- Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky, The Painted Veil) performing "The Wave" by Julie Myerson

Upheavel takes place on November 29, at Shoreditch House. Performances 6 - 8 PM, tickets £15.
Visit the website to book your seat

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"The Yunnan Project" New Cinema Series Group will arrive in London on 30 November 2009 to hold the
Finding Shangri-La cultural exchange event.
 
Highlights:
·Screening of the UK premiere of Finding Shangri-La followed by Q&A with the Chief Producer Lola.
·Photo Exhibition of Shangri-La
·Live music from some of the top local musicians
 
Guests from the Chinese and British film industries press, governments, business and cultural associations will be invited to witness the year's most special showing of the mysterious and beautiful local culture that comes from China's Yunnan Province.
 
Please visit our website for details
 
Time:6.00pm-8.30pm, 30 November 2009
Venue:Coronet Cinema, Notting Hill, London W11 3LB
Box Office:FREE admission but on RSVP email only.

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Revolver Entertainment presents a special premiere of the inspiring documentary Only When I Dance, taking place on Thursday 26th November at the Tricycle Cinema, Kilburn at 8.30pm.

This will be followed by a Q&A with director Beadie Finzi, the film's star dancer Irlan Santos da Silva and producers.
 
Only When I Dance is a classic narrative documentary following two young teenagers, Isabela and Irlan, both black and poor, and living in one of the most violent favelas on the outskirts of Rio. Irlan and Isabela both want to dance ballet and their ambition is to leave Brazil to join one of the great companies in the North.  For them, dance is the way out, an escape, and on stage, an ecstasy, that is rarely found in their day to day lives.  .
 
 "Charming...an unforgettable experience" - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian.
 
 To book tickets, head to www.tricycle.co.uk
BIFA Tickets!

With less than 2 weeks until the big night, the 2009 British Independent Film Awards are fast-approaching. The new location, The Brewery, is sure to bring about an air of lavishness.

Wondering how to secure your place in all the action? The tickets can be rather hard to come by, but don't give up just yet. Try your luck and enter our competition for a chance to win 2 after show party tickets.

Clear your calendar for December 6th, you just might be looking forward to a night sipping cocktails with celebrities!
Top Tweets
TwitterHow to say no when you didn't get paid for your last project. This is seriously funny

The short film that inspired District 9. The feature version was made for only $30M.

Reducing the Odds for making it Huge

Follow us on Twitter
Premium Members

Total Film
New Offer!

Raindance members can now get an exclusive 35% discount on Total Film Magazine and 30% on SFX and DVD and Blu-ray Review.

To use the discount, simply log in and follow the links in the members area

Not a Premium Member? Join here
Stuff We Like

Thumbs Up
People helping people is what it's all about. World Aids Day 2009 is
on December 1st, everyone! Help support those with the disease and
help the world get closer to the cure and prevention by donating £1 to your local GAP, H&M and MAC counters and at Lloydspharmacy. Show off your red ribbon and eliminate discrimination barriers.

Find out more information on the World AIDS Day website.

Alternatively you can support Travis McCoy's Unbeaten Track, part of the Staying Alive campaign from MTV.
What not to do on Twitter
Raindance Logo

New to this New Media malarkey?

Give twitter a go. It's fun sure, but more than that it is extremely useful, for both finding new sources of information and connecting with people.

One thing though - if you are going to try it out, make sure not to make these top 10 mistakes that are sure to alienate you from the twitter crowd.
Something about Raindance

My name is Lindsay Curran, I'm from Boston and I'm studying Cinema and Media Studies. As an American intern in the UK, I find myself in the office and working on Thanksgiving Day.  Naturally, this is not how I usually spend this holiday. 

Thanksgiving for me normally involves a scene of chaos in the kitchen all day as we prepare dinner, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on the TV, and about twenty family members showing up over the course of the afternoon accompanied by a small pack of children. This is then rounded off by a very good meal.
 
However, I still find that I have plenty to be thankful for.  I am living in a fantastic city full of amazing culture and fascinating people, and I get to work in a place that gives me the opportunity to learn more every day about the subject of my greatest obsession - film!
Quoted
The Karl Marx School of Film
Quoted
"The writer must earn money in order to be able to live and to write, but he must by no means live and write for the purpose of making money."

"Men's ideas are the most direct emanations of their material state"

"Art is always and everywhere the secret confession, and at the same time the immortal movement of its time"

"Experience praises the most happy the one who made the most people happy."

And one from Marx' co-author of 'The Communist Manifesto'
"An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory."
Friedrich Engels

"Go on, get out. Last words are for fools who haven't said enough."
Karl Marx

But one final word:
"A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five."
Groucho Marx
Film Specific

Film Specific have two exciting new programmes just about to start:

Get It Made!: A 90-Day One-On-One Program for Films in Pre-Production
which assists filmmakers with devising a viable strategy to get their films off the ground and offers the ongoing individualized support and guidance to take them through the process.

Distribution SOS: A 90-Day One-On-One Program for Completed Films
which assists filmmakers with devising a viable strategy to get their films in front of distributors, in front of audiences, and out into the world, and offers the ongoing support and guidance to take them through the process.

Only 10 places are available on each course and the application deadline for both is Monday 30th November
Coffee Break
Coffee
Check out Melodymaker's Posterous blog some particularly amusing videos and audio clips (The Reason Some Girls Stay Single: a message left on a girls answerphone)


Enjoy, but make sure your boss doesn't catch you, we don't want to get in trouble
Review: Master Shots: 100 Advanced Camera Techniques...

When reading this book, one thing that comes to mind is how underrated good knowledge of film technique can be. 

In his book, Master Shots: 100 Advanced Camera Techniques to Get an Expensive Look on Your Low Budget Movie, Christopher Kenworthy breaks down professional film techniques for the low-budget filmmaker in a clear and easily understandable manner.

Read the full Raindance review here
Renounced

Renounced Could the new National Minimum Wage laws kill British Filmmaking?

Last time we jumped into this, we got our virtual heads kicked in.

A  tribunal in Reading ruled that expenses only engagements are illegal and National Minimum Wage should be paid to all workers engaged on an expenses only basis. HMRC can impose a fine of up to £5000 to those companies who fail to pay their workers at least NMW. Join the debate...
We hope life continues merrily for you
 
Sincerely,
 
Raindance

The Raindance Film Festival Team
Suzanne Ballantyne
James Burbidge
Frederica Byron
Julian Chapelle
Lindsey Curran
Aylin Erinc
Elliot Grove
Meredith Hicks
Jagruti Majithia
Rory O'Donnell
Theresa Norton
Joe Pearshouse
Chris Presswell
Xavier Rashid
Amelie Thille
Chris Thomas
Festival Store Now Open
Tee Shirts, Posters, DVD's, Books, and the Raindance Bag
Amnesia: Mean Creek
 
For as many films as there are in the world depicting teenage adolescence, very few are as realistic as Jacob Aaron Estes' 'Mean Creek'...

Theresa Norton -  Mean Creek