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New Raindance Book
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Out Now
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Greetings!
welcome to the first truly wintery newsletter of the year. We hope you're enjoying the cold snap as much as us.
This Sunday sees the British Independent Film Awards taking place in London. Guests will include Micahel Caine and Daniel Day-Lewis. Stay tuned for announcements through the evening.
As you gear up for Christmas have you considered the the Raindance Gift Bag might make a perfect present? A whole heap of Raindance goodies and great value for money!
In other news, the most 'Raindancey' of American film awards, the Independent Spirit Award nominees were announced on Monday night.
An astonishing 3 films from this year's Raindance Film Festival films secured highly prized nominations: Humpday, Kyle Patrick Alvarez for 'Easier With Practice', and Asiel Norton for 'Redland'.
Read this, and old newsletters, online!
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Shooting a Fight Scene on a Low Budget
Shooting
a fight scene is tricky and can look exceedingly amateurish if not done
properly. Sometimes however, your film is simply spoiling for a fight...
These 8 tips
will show you how to film a convincing fight without the budget
required for stunt doubles, equipment and special effects. What is
more, they are techniques used by professionals, the first punch of Fight Club was staged using tip number 1.
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Beat the VAT increase
As you are probably aware, VAT will be rising to 17.5% in the New Year.
If you are planning on doing one of our courses in 2010 make sure you book before January. You can view our full course catalogue online.
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99 Minute Director's Film School
 There's no getting around it, directing is a large subject to study and we can't fit all of it into 1.5 hours.
Or can we?
Chris Thomas' short sharp course will allow you to go and work with a team to bring your vision to the screen, and at the end of the day, that's all directing really is.
Topics include:
Developing Your Vision - Know your Story
Directing A Casting
Working with Actors
Directing The Camera
Keeping Your Eye On The Prize - Directing For the Edit
What? 99 Minute Director's Film School
When? Tuesday 15th December, 6.30-8.30pm
Where? Apollo West End Cinema, London. Nearest tube Piccadilly Circus.
How Much? £13 (inc. VAT)
Raindance Premium Members get in free
Full Details and Book Online Here |
Silence Your Inner Critic
How many times have you held back form embarking on a project because you fear it won't be perfect? How often does some small voice inside your head supply you with some faux-plausible excuse not to do something? Emerging filmmaker and Raindance alumni, Daniel Johnson urges you to silence your inner critic |
Short Film Project
On this project you will team up with five others and and prepare and shoot a short film under the expert guidance or tutor Martin Gooch.
The course will include:
- Hands on instruction on the use of camera and kit.
- Experience of each of the on-set shooting roles
- Shooting actual scripted scenes with actual actors.
- Coaching from a professional Cameraman and Director
- On set discipline and shoot etiquette.
- Introduction to shot lists/storyboards
What? Short Film Project
When? 8 - 12 December, 3 evenings and 1 day
Where? 10 Craven St Rehearsal Studios,
London WC2N 5PE, nearest tube Charing Cross
How Much? £325.00 + 15% VAT
Raindance Premium Members get a 15% Discount
Last 2 places on this popular course
To register 0207 287 3833 or Book Online Here |
Raindance.tv
Bring a little suspense into your life this week with a few short films on raindance.tv
If the weather has got you in a haze, break out of it with some dramatic cinema. Be sure to check out the love story of a man and a girl with a secret in Aglaya Kurnosenko's 'Yungfrau'. For a film that will keep you guessing tune into James Eaves 'Briefcase', where the lives of a young couple take a dark turn with the sudden introduction of a stranger.
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Raindance Canada
 Raindance Canada has had an exciting micro office in Toronto since 2005 - and we have exciting plans for 2010.
This week's news - featuring the Canadian Film Centre's new programmes for feature filmmakers and Spotlight Nation - with over 1,000 members in Toronto area
List of the Canadian films that were at this year's American Film Market
Canadian film "Passchendaele" a success at 2009 Directors Guild of Canada Awards
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Working the Net
Acclaimed filmmaker Tony Kaye (American History X) revisits the places in London of special relevance to his life and work. You can follow Tony Kaye's progress on this blog and watch him on this youtube video.
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Guiding Lights
- Are
you a talented, ambitious filmmaker with at least two years professional
experience?
- Have
you reached a critical point in your career where high quality industry support
would help you reach the next level?
- Would
a mentor's expert guidance enable you to achieve your full potential?
Guiding Lights are looking for another 25
up-and-coming film professionals to match with top industry talent. Successful
applicants will benefit from 12 months of one-to-one mentor support from an
established practitioner. Previous mentors include Danny Boyle, Paul
Greengrass, Gurinda Chadha, Kenneth Branagh, Alison Owen, Christopher Hampton
and Bill Nicholson.
Please
check the website
for eligibility criteria, guidelines and FAQs
APPLICATION
DEADLINE: 1pm
Wednesday 23rd December 2009
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Former Raindance Student goes on to European Success
Iphigeneia Kotsoni took the Director's Diploma last year and has gone on to win a 25000 Euro prize to shoot a short film.
She is currently lining up an international feature and says "I have a great DoP attached, (he shot the Duchess, was nominated for oscar, and [is] actually shooting Predators) and I am looking for a good make up artist (the story is from the late 30's to today so I have aging) and a good production designer"
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Premium Members
Our script database has been updated with the full 'Coen Brothers Suite' Everything from 'Blood Simple' to 'True Grit' (in production). You can see what they did right ('The Big Lebowski') and what they did wrong ('Intolerable Cruelty').
To access these scripts, just log in to the members area
Not a Premium Member? Join here
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Stuff We Like
Reverse Graffiti
Graffiti, be it urban expressions of the artistically minded disaffected youth or mindless egocentric scrawling, uses spray paint and as we know, that is bad for the world. A new wave is sweeping city centres however, environmentally friendly graffiti (graffitE?) which creates images by cleaning the grime off walls and even cars. Check out the top 35 images |
BIFA and Raindance Interviews by t5m
Some of the movers and shakers in British film discuss the the BIFAs, what
they love about British films and which film, if any, they would make
into a musical
Raindance Founder Elliot Grove was also interviewed.
He speaks candidly about setting up the festival and the BIFAs and about what independent film means today.
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Quoted
What is Brazil?
 "I personally wouldn't work with Mr. Gilliam again, but it has
nothing to do with his talents as a director. I don't respect his talent as a
human being."
Sid Sheinberg
"You get trapped by
stories. Though I've got this reputation for being out of control, it's not
true, it just happens to be a more interesting story than the truth."
Terry
Gilliam
And just what is Brazil?
"Its late night shopping and terrorist bombing"
Terry Gilliam
"I don't even know why its called Brazil"
Tom Stoppard
"What is Brazil? I don't know"
Michael Palin
"This is Franz Kafka meets Walter Mitty"
Terry Gilliam
"Its entering Terry Gilliam land"
Kim Greist
"Its the impossibility of escape from reality"
Terry Gilliam
"Nobody knows. Its Brazil"
Patrick Cassavetti
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Something About Raindance
American intern Aylin tells us about her time at Raindance and her plans for the future.
Working with Raindance has been a great
experience. The environment is very much relaxed and yet there is so much going
on in the world of film and media, which is nice to be a part of.
Plans for the
future will include a trip to the Swiss Alps in December for a 9 day snowboard
session with my sister. Not to mention I'll be going to Spain and France. After
that, I look forward to making money back home in Philly and finishing up my
degree. The best part will be wearing my winter thermals, listening to my records
and drinking cheap wine.
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Coffee Break
Today's Vibe is a website by 3 Philly guys.
They help put together some grassroots marketing campaigns as well as provide
creative media designs. Check it out.
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Competition
Win a Raindance Gift Bag worth £100
Win Raindance items worth over £100!
- Raindance Premium
- Membership
- Selection of Raindance Shorts DVDs
- 'Breaking into the Film Industry' CD
- a Raindance Bag!
If you want to win, answer the following question:
Which Raindance course will be hold on 13 January 2010?
A) Cannes Survival Guide
B) The Short Film Project
C) 99 Minute Film School
A clue - you might be able to find the answer somewhere in here
Email your answer, name and telephone number to party@raindance.co.uk quoting "Raindance Competition" in the subject header by 8 Dec 2009
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Renounced
 Broadcasters are suffering in these uncertain economic times and unfortunately that seems to mean that they are playing it safe with their commissions.
Book adaptations may have proven stories and pre-built audiences but they are often stale and safe and add little of value to the medium.
Get set to see a lot more of them.
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The Independent Film Trust
Set up by Raindance Founder Elliot Grove, the Independent Film Trust exists to help develop indie filmmakers in the UK. The Film Industry Network has interviewed its commercial director, Marcia Degia.
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Five tips to improve your Shot Planning
Raindance tutor Chris Thomas breaks down 5 ways to help you plan your shots. Good camera direction makes a film look professional and often give the impression of a bigger budget.
With these tips you will be better able to create smooth shots that not only capture the images you need but inform the emotional content of the scene.
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Now is the season for wrapping up warm and watching some quality cinema - if only you can find any.
Have a good weekend
Sincerely,
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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
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