We are getting ready to launch the 19th edition of the Raindance Film Festival with a stellar lineup of 100 features, nearly 150 short films from a record-breaking 36 countries.
Thats about 250 heart breaking stories from the participating filmamkers about how hard it is to make it.
Want more? I dare you: Read Filmmaking: The Terrible Job Everyone Wants
Showing posts with label film festival. Show all posts
Showing posts with label film festival. Show all posts
To LIve od Die In LA
One of the great thing about the Raindance Film Festival is you get to reconnect with filmmakers from all over the world - a bit like a mini-Cannes
One such filmmaker is Justin McGoldrick who worked his butt off here in London last year as one of our fabulous interns - and then went back to the States where he just finished another 6 month internship
He has written up some excellent advice
Read:
5 Things I Learned As A LA Film Intern
One such filmmaker is Justin McGoldrick who worked his butt off here in London last year as one of our fabulous interns - and then went back to the States where he just finished another 6 month internship
He has written up some excellent advice
Read:
5 Things I Learned As A LA Film Intern
I Just Got Rejected - Again
Raindance got turned down again for a UK BFI Festival grant this week. It's the 29th time our film festival, nearly 20 years old, has been refused public funding.
It's so easy, isn't it, to bet bitter and twisted after you have been rejected for that prized moment?
So I wrote an article about it - this one is going viral:
3 Ways To Reject Rejection
www.raindance.org
It's so easy, isn't it, to bet bitter and twisted after you have been rejected for that prized moment?
So I wrote an article about it - this one is going viral:
3 Ways To Reject Rejection
www.raindance.org
Need An Excuse Fo A Party?
A bit over 10 years ago the UK film Council was created to disperse UK lottery as well as UK government money. Raindance started applying, not just to the UK Film Council heqad office in London, but to regional offices and related programmes funded by public money.
The first one, the second one, the one that wasn't even opened, the one that was late, the one that didn't meet criteria set, the ones unfairly adjudicated, the ones faitly adjudicated until two weeks ago, we received (to no great surprise) our 28th rejection - this time from film London's Audience Development Fund. Strange, because we definately met all the criteria posted and were better qualified than all but 2 of the 6 film festivals who did receive assistance. And this wasn't even for money.
which leaves me here:
Application 29 is currently with the BFI. They have a special fund for film festivals who have lost money due to the economic crunch. Do we ever have the qualifications for this one, and I wonder if the new team at the BFI will give us a fair look on this, our 29th application.
And on Friday we whizzed off funding application number 30 to Skillset with just 8 minutes to spare - number 30.
Now, I'm thinking - 30 rejections from public bodies in 10-ish years is course for celebrations isnt it?
And given that Skillset themselves say they take a good solid 8 weeks to consider applications (quick by most standards) that would put their decision and likely rejection right into September. Add a couple weeks for the usual tooing and froing - I'm thinking
God damn - Lets have a P A R T Y !
30 applications for support for Raindance!
30 rejections!
Timings about perfect to celebrate Opening Night of the 19th Raindance Film Festival
Lets Reject Rejection
And Party All Night!
Wednesday 28 September!
The first one, the second one, the one that wasn't even opened, the one that was late, the one that didn't meet criteria set, the ones unfairly adjudicated, the ones faitly adjudicated until two weeks ago, we received (to no great surprise) our 28th rejection - this time from film London's Audience Development Fund. Strange, because we definately met all the criteria posted and were better qualified than all but 2 of the 6 film festivals who did receive assistance. And this wasn't even for money.
which leaves me here:
Application 29 is currently with the BFI. They have a special fund for film festivals who have lost money due to the economic crunch. Do we ever have the qualifications for this one, and I wonder if the new team at the BFI will give us a fair look on this, our 29th application.
And on Friday we whizzed off funding application number 30 to Skillset with just 8 minutes to spare - number 30.
Now, I'm thinking - 30 rejections from public bodies in 10-ish years is course for celebrations isnt it?
And given that Skillset themselves say they take a good solid 8 weeks to consider applications (quick by most standards) that would put their decision and likely rejection right into September. Add a couple weeks for the usual tooing and froing - I'm thinking
God damn - Lets have a P A R T Y !
30 applications for support for Raindance!
30 rejections!
Timings about perfect to celebrate Opening Night of the 19th Raindance Film Festival
Lets Reject Rejection
And Party All Night!
Wednesday 28 September!
6 Ways Film Directors Screw Editors
Team Raindance might be losing it.
Maybe it's because Friday 17th is the last, no-excuses deadline to submit to the 19th annual Raindance Film Festival.
Here's what happened:
Christian our film editor (with headphones) sat staring silently at his screen for three wholes days. Then on Wednesday he let out a might roar and struck his head on the desk.
An hour later he wrote:
6 Ways Film Directors Screw Editors
Maybe it's because Friday 17th is the last, no-excuses deadline to submit to the 19th annual Raindance Film Festival.
Here's what happened:
Christian our film editor (with headphones) sat staring silently at his screen for three wholes days. Then on Wednesday he let out a might roar and struck his head on the desk.
An hour later he wrote:
6 Ways Film Directors Screw Editors
If You Think Filmmaking is Hard, Try Distribution
Everyone knows how demanding and difficult it is to make a film, but it's a cake walk compared to what distribution is all about. When I started Raindance in 1992, the process was much simpler: get some money and make the damn thing, enter a few film festivals, fob it off onto a sales agent who'd send you some money from home video and tv sales, and you could do it again.
Not now. The distribution world has changed dramatically. And what about all these new terms like 'hybrid' distribution and trans media?
So you get swept into the swirl, don the all-black wardrobe, start wearing sunglasses day and night, and before you know it you are committing The 7 Deadly Sins of Self Distribution
Not now. The distribution world has changed dramatically. And what about all these new terms like 'hybrid' distribution and trans media?
So you get swept into the swirl, don the all-black wardrobe, start wearing sunglasses day and night, and before you know it you are committing The 7 Deadly Sins of Self Distribution
Becoming A Festival Darling
Rarely do the huge hits of film festivals work commercially, but that doesn't stop filmmakers from trying to become festival darlings.
It's relatively easy to become a festival darling: Just become an indie auteur complete with dark glasses and a black wardrobe.
If your time is precious and you want to sneak preview a few film industry insider tricks, read our article: How To Fake Being An Indie Autuer.
It's relatively easy to become a festival darling: Just become an indie auteur complete with dark glasses and a black wardrobe.
If your time is precious and you want to sneak preview a few film industry insider tricks, read our article: How To Fake Being An Indie Autuer.
10 Things Screenwriters Should Know About Filmmaking
The film festival has finished and we are cleaning up the office. We played 77 features of which 69 were British premieres - a record for Raindance.
Watching all of the films and meeting and talking to the filmmakers made me realise how often screenwriters don't bother to learn about the important role of the producer and the filmmaking porcess.
I put together the 10 Things Screenwriters Should Know About Filmmaking
Enjoy
Watching all of the films and meeting and talking to the filmmakers made me realise how often screenwriters don't bother to learn about the important role of the producer and the filmmaking porcess.
I put together the 10 Things Screenwriters Should Know About Filmmaking
Enjoy
TV Writer's Resource Guide
I know it's kinda tacky for a film festival to talk about TV - but that's where a great deal of work is for screenwriters and filmmakers, right?
So I asked Jane-Marie - one of our fabulous new interns, to whip up a useful resource guide, which she promptly did.
Enjoy Raindance's TV Writer's Resource Guide
So I asked Jane-Marie - one of our fabulous new interns, to whip up a useful resource guide, which she promptly did.
Enjoy Raindance's TV Writer's Resource Guide
Getting Film Development Finance
You have scoured underground theatre and have a list of actors so sizzling hot you can hardly wait to launch their careers in the movies.
At film festivals you have seen scores of shorts and debut features from which you have short-listed several directors you would like to work with.
All of this has been at your own expense.
Finally, after meeting dozens of writers and reading hundreds of screenplays, you finally have a script that you really believe in.
You visit a printer and get some flashy business cards made up with your name as producer on them. But this is still no guarantee that you will get your movie made.
You need money.
Read the article:
www.raindance.org
At film festivals you have seen scores of shorts and debut features from which you have short-listed several directors you would like to work with.
All of this has been at your own expense.
Finally, after meeting dozens of writers and reading hundreds of screenplays, you finally have a script that you really believe in.
You visit a printer and get some flashy business cards made up with your name as producer on them. But this is still no guarantee that you will get your movie made.
You need money.
Read the article:
www.raindance.org
Festival Submission Closing Date
It's been the same for 17 years now:
In the week BEFORE our final deadline, dozens of telephone calls - from filmmakers asking questions concerning eligibility, from filmmakers worried that their films will reach us in time (Yes it has to be POSTMARKED June 19th) and from filmmakers worried about whether or not their film submissions have arrived.
On this last point, our answer isn't such an easy one as there is a huge pile in the corner, and I'd guess we are running a good week - ten day behind in the logging process.
Happen to want to submit to Briain's largest independent film festival?
Here are the Submission Details
In the week BEFORE our final deadline, dozens of telephone calls - from filmmakers asking questions concerning eligibility, from filmmakers worried that their films will reach us in time (Yes it has to be POSTMARKED June 19th) and from filmmakers worried about whether or not their film submissions have arrived.
On this last point, our answer isn't such an easy one as there is a huge pile in the corner, and I'd guess we are running a good week - ten day behind in the logging process.
Happen to want to submit to Briain's largest independent film festival?
Here are the Submission Details
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