The Latest
John Cooper on Why John Cooper Loves #ArtistServices
The launch of the next realm of “Sundance” fills me with both pride and optimism. Frankly, I was getting weary of the ubiquitous chatter on “How digital cinema will change everything” not to mention the ever popular “Is independent cinema booming or dying?” depending on how you filled your glass. Cinema by its nature is always evolving.
Direct-to-Fan is NOT the Last Resort
Bob has dedicated his career to removing obstacles between artists and fans. He’s managed bands and events and created artist web sites. In 1996, he created one of the web’s first licensed streaming music sites.
August Now Playing
Check out these Sundance Institute and Sundance Film Festival supported films hitting theatres across the country this month.
Opening Friday, August 5:
Bellflower, directed by Evan GlodellGun Hill Road, directed by Rashaad Ernesto GreenMagic Trip, directed by Alison Ellwood and Alex Gibney
Opening Friday, August 12:
Senna, directed by Asif Kapadia
Opening Friday, August 26:
Circumstance, directed by Maryam KeshavarzHigher Ground, directed by Vera FarmigaMy Idiot Brother, directed by Jesse Peretz
Now Playing in Theatres:
Another Earth, directed by Mike CahillBeats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest, directed by Michael RapaportCrime After Crime, directed by Yoav PotashThe Future, directed by Miranda JulyThe Guard, directed by John Michael McDonaghThe Interrupters, directed by Steve JamesLife in a Day, directed by Kevin MacdonaldProject Nim, directed by James MarshSalvation Boulevard, directed by George Ratliff
DVD Releases:
The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, directed by Morgan SpurlockThe Music Never Stopped, directed by Jim KohlbergSkateland, directed by Anthony BurnsWin Win, directed by Thomas McCarthy.
Catching Up in Kenya
Film Forward is all about creating cultural exchange through the exhibition of films and conversations with filmmakers. It’s about making connections with artists, youth, and everyday people, and finding similarities and dispelling differences. It is a worthy mission with an impact that can resonate, but we had to put it in the context of what was happening in the Horn of Africa.
Sundance Institute Artist Services Initiative Receives Lead Support From The Bertha Foundation
Los Angeles, CA — The Bertha Foundation has awarded a major grant to Sundance Institute’s new Artist Services initiative, which will provide opportunities for Institute artists to reach audiences, raise funding and receive support through a robust educational and resources site.
The Artist Services program furthers the Institute’s mission to support independent artists, and is designed for filmmakers interested in independent “creative distribution” as they navigate the evolving landscape in film distribution, marketing and financing. With unparalleled recognition worldwide, the Institute is in a unique position to bring together a wide range of services and lend invaluable promotional support for artists.
Coming to a Close
The Sunset Dhow Sail to the Mangroves of Manda Island have become a much-anticipated event. The Dhow of Diamond Beach Village, which this year came in first place in the official Lamu Dhow Race, was re-launched into the water this week, re-painted, and re-fitted by its co-captains, Abu and Answar. Once again, we Sundancers were invited on board as a late afternoon sun cast its orange yellow glow on us.
Sundance Institute Announces Expansion of Artist Services Initiative, Offers Access to Online Distri
Los Angeles, CA (July 27, 2011) — Keri Putnam, Executive Director of the non-profit Sundance Institute, today announced an expansion of the Institute’s Artist Services program, which provides opportunities for Sundance Institute artists to reach audiences, raise funding and receive support through a robust educational and resources site. While the Sundance Film Festival has long offered a platform for films to be acquired for distribution, the expansion of this initiative aims to provide opportunities for the many projects that are distributed independently.
Through the program, filmmakers can now make their films available online to consumer markets via iTunes, Amazon, Hulu, Netflix, SundanceNOW, and YouTube while still retaining ownership of their work and making independent decisions about strategies for each outlet.
Joseph Gordon Levitt Welcomes You to Sundance Institute’s #ArtistServices
The Sundance Institute, for me, has been the richest source of creative inspiration for as long as I can remember. Not only have I participated in many workshop and festival events throughout the years, Sundance New Frontier served as the launchpad for my open-collaborative production company, hitRECord, in 2010.Last year, I fulfilled a dream I didn’t even know I had by joining the Sundance Institute Board of Trustees.
Peter Sillen on Making His Jesse Bernstein Doc, ‘I Am Secretly an Important Man’
Peter Sillen is a New York–based documentary filmmaker whose documentary shorts Speed Racer and Branson: Musicland USA screened at the 1994 and 2003 Sundance Film Festivals, respectively.Jesse Bernstein was a brilliant, complex, and troubled individual. He lived a more colorful life than most people ever dream of.
Sundance Institute’s Artist Services Reaches Out
Sundance Institute announced the expansion of the #ArtistServices Initiative, a program to help Institute alumni navigate the marketplace of independent film distribution, which was first made public during the 2011 Sundance Film Festival with an initial team-up with Kickstarter. Since January, this collaboration has raised more than $700,000 for a total of 24 Sundance Institute alumni projects. Today’s announcement included the expansion of partners that filmmakers can now make their films available through online: iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu, Netflix, SundanceNOW, and YouTube.
Neil Kellerhouse, Owner of Kellerhouse, Inc.
Q: What is your background, how did you begin your journey to film art?
A: I was working in the music industry until they sued Napster. I thought that was a really dumb thing to do, so I started aggressively moving away from that industry. Iʼd already been working with Disneyʼs marketing department, primarily on Pixar films.
I Am I Hits the Sweet Spot With Fans
Cora Olson and Jennifer Dubin formed Present Pictures to produce smartly-budgeted, cutting-edge content from select talent in today’s independent film industry. Their films have premiered at some of the world’s top festivals including Sundance, Toronto and Tribeca. Credits include The Babysitters, Good Dick, The Perfect Family and Future Weather.
The Reality of #ArtistServices (or a Doc’s POV)
1989, 2002, 2004: Doc lovers will recognize the dates as the years that Michael Moore released the films Roger and Me, Bowling for Columbine, and Fahrenheit 911. Box Office Mojo grosses list $6.7 million, $21 million and $120 million respectively, give or take some change.
Us vs. Them: Film Producer Reid Carolin on Getting Creative with Distribition
Reid Carolin is a producer, screenwriter, and co-founder of Constellation, a startup digital exhibition platform launching this summer. He produced and developed Kimberly Peirce’s Stop-Loss (2008), and wrote and produced Earth Made of Glass (2011), a documentary on Rwandan president Paul Kagame. His upcoming films include Jamie Linden’s Ten Year and Steven Soderbergh’s Magic Mike, written and produced by Carolin.
Our Obligation To Share
Hope has produced more than 60 films, including three Sundance winners and the first features of Michel Gondry, Hal Hartley, Nicole Holofcener, and Ang Lee. Among his recent films, Sean Durkin’s Martha Marcy May Marlene won the Sundance Directing Award, and Todd Solondz’s Dark Horse is headed for fall festivals. He cofounded HammerToNail.