Archive for August, 2009
Filmmaker Christen Marquez at the Pacific X-Change Conference
ITVS and Pacific Islanders In Communications recently hosted the Pacific X-change conference, an educational two-day workshop held in Waikiki, Hawaii. Find out what the experience was like for independent documentary filmmaker Christen Marquez who was one of 19 selected to attend.
Filmmaker Christen Marquez with her mother Elena Marquez, both subjects of the documentary work-in-progress HAKU INOA: To Weave a Name.
Richard Saiz gives out homework. Really, there was a take home assignment.
Filmmaker Sarah Del Seronde presents her project on a family in Tonga to the panel.
Every time I return to Hawai‘i, I am grateful to see my Mom, spend time with her, and learn from her. As a Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) of mixed heritage currently living in California, I truly appreciate any opportunity to learn from all the people I meet here on the islands. This trip was exceptionally exciting because I was one of 19 fortunate documentary producers and directors selected to attend the Pacific X-change conference, which was a collaboration between ITVS and Pacific Islanders In Communications. Held in the Prince Kuhio hotel in Waikiki, the workshop consisted of two days of workshops and pitching sessions.
At the beginning of the conference ITVS Senior Programming Manager Richard Saiz revealed that he has read an astonishing 8,000 documentary proposals. Wow! I would probably have brain damage. Thankfully, instead of crippling himself, Richard has gained great insight into what goes into a successful treatment. Just one memorable tidbit he shared with us was his holy trinity of doc proposal writing. Which distilled to premise, theme and story. If you can make each of these elements truly compelling Richard swears that you will be successful.
Up next was lovely local girl Cheryl Hirasa, who also happens to be a production manager at ITVS. By coincidence, she was in Hawai‘i visiting family and actually gave up some of her vacation to attend the conference. She presented a workshop on producing for public television, which helped explain deliverables and public television distribution.
Special Community Cinema Screening in Chicago: ESTILO HIP HOP
Over the weekend, Community Cinema hosted a special screening in Chicago of the Global Voices documentary ESTILO HIP HOP, which chronicles the lives of three hip hop enthusiasts from Brazil, Chile and Cuba who firmly believe that hip hop can change the world. This screening was presented by WTTW, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and the Southwest Community Coalition. Get the full report below from Regional Outreach Coordinator Naomi Walker:
DJ Man-O-Wax mixes music while B-Boy Brave Monk shows off some moves.
Panelists B-Boy Brave Monk, MC D Nick the Microphone Misfit and Graf Artist Lavie Raven take questions from the audience.
In the audience of ESTILO HIP HOP were the young leaders from the K.I. Eco Center, a youth development program that runs the Community Cinema program in Indianapolis, IN. I had the privilege to attend their screening of TULIA, TEXAS last January and was very impressed and inspired by the event. To see young people, ranging in age from ten to 18 years old, leading adults in a post-screening discussion showed how documentary film can be used as a tool for cross-generational engagement. It was so cool that they were able to take the time to come up to Chicago for this event.
The host for the afternoon was Super InLight, movement/teaching artists, and the choreographer and director of the Stick & Move Dance crew. Super InLight (literally) kicked off the proceedings with a birthday tribute to the dance innovations of Michael Jackson, acknowledging the influence that hip hop dance moves like pop lock had on Jackson and vice versa.
Presenters DJ Man-O-Wax, MC D Nick the Microphone Misfit, B-Boy Brave Monk and Graf Artist Lavie Raven, co-founder of the University of Hip Hop, represented the five elements of hip hop. The fifth element of hip hop––knowledge––was represented by all the presenters, who shared their stories and insights on what inspires them and what they tell the young people they teach (yes, they are ALL teachers by day!).
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Q&A With END OF THE RAINBOW Filmmaker Mitzi Goldman
Airing this Sunday at 10:00 PM on Global Voices on PBS World (check local listings), END OF THE RAINBOW explores the human dimensions of industrial gold-mining in two remote locations: Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo and Guinea, West Africa. We recently spoke with filmmaker Mitzi Goldman about the challenges of making the documentary and her style of filming. Learn more about the film and get her take below:
Q. What were some of the challenges you faced in making this film? What were some of the lessons you learned in making END OF THE RAINBOW.
Mitzi Goldman: Making a documentary in Africa is always going to present challenges, especially if the country is undergoing some political strife. In our case, we were lucky to have the access and cooperation of the mining operation. They helped enormously with logistics and accommodation as well as power and transportation. This is due to the director’s excellent relationships with the mine.
The translations were quite challenging and time consuming. It was expensive to find translators in Australia who could speak the Malinke dialect and be able to transcribe the interviews. We didn’t really find them, and so we had to do the labor intensive typing as they were translated from the screen.
I learned that sometimes being in the right place at the right time can make your movie. It’s important to grab opportunities as they present themselves and make the most of the moment. Sometimes, one scene can make a film. For us, it was the pit bust scene. When we had that scene and the following events, we knew we had a great film.
Always go that extra mile.
Watch END OF THE RAINBOW on Global Voices on PBS WORLD
“A refreshing change from hardline documentaries about foreign capital wreaking havoc in Third World countries,” Variety
END OF THE RAINBOW explores the human dimensions of industrial gold-mining in two remote locations. As the mine’s structures and equipment are dismantled in Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo, then transported and reconstructed to begin gold processing in Guinea, West Africa, what unfolds is an elegiac portrait of the changes brought by the mine and of the universal human desire for a better life.
Watch a preview below:
END OF THE RAINBOW airs Sunday, August 30 at 10:00 PM on Global Voices on PBS WORLD (check local listings).
Watch HARLEM IN MONTMARTRE: A Paris Jazz Story Tonight on Great Performances
Ada Bricktop Smith, Mabel Mercer and guests at Bricktop's, a popular jazz club in Paris.
After World War I, many African Americans remained or returned to Europe, and over the next two decades, created an expatriate community of musicians, entertainers, dancers, and entrepreneurs, primarily congregating in Paris’ hilly Montmartre neighborhood. Based on the book by William Shack, HARLEM IN MONTMARTRE: A Paris Jazz Story looks at the impact of African American performers and musicians during the great jazz era of Paris.
HARLEM IN MONTMARTRE airs tonight, August 26, on Great Performances on PBS (check local listings).
Free Screening of BRONX PRINCESS This Saturday in Little Ghana Neighborhood
BRONX PRINCESS tells the true story of Rocky Otoo, the Bronx-born teenage daughter of royal Ghanaian parents. With freedom in sight, this sassy, college-bound overachiever rebels against working at her mother’s beauty shop moves to Ghana, West Africa, with her royal father and reconciles her African heritage with her dream of independence.
Funded by ITVS and airing next month on P.O.V. on PBS, the film will have a free screening at 9:00 PM on Saturday, August 29 at Mullaly Park, Bronx, NY.
After the screening, Otoo, her Ghanaian family and filmmakers Yoni Brook and Musa Syeed will answer questions from the audience.
This outdoor screening will be in Little Ghana––a neighborhood just blocks away from where it was filmed. Starting at 6:00 PM, there will be a block party, which will feature live music and poetry performances by West African artists from the film as well as hands-on arts activities for children and college resources.
Learn more about this free screening >>
Visit P.O.V. for more information about the upcoming broadcast >>
Ask Programming: Recent Questions from Filmmakers
ITVS programming staff answer questions from filmmakers about the funding process:
Q. I understand that only people of color can apply to the Diversity Development Fund (DDF). As a disabled filmmaker, I wonder why aren’t other minority status categories included in this initiative?
A. DDF is specifically for producers of color, as defined by ethnic communities of color, historically underrepresented in our public broadcasting system. They are African American, Asian American, Arab American, Latino/Latina, Native American/Native Alaskan, Pacific Islander and mixed race. Moreover, these categories conform with the National Minority Consortia, which is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Q. I have a project in development, but I’m not sure if it’s appropriate for DDF. Is it strictly for stories about diverse or minority communities?
A. DDF was created to support minority producers but does not specify which stories they tell. However, we are looking for programs that fit the ITVS mission to serve underserved audiences, take creative risks, explore complex issues, inspire dialogue and express points of view seldom seen on commercial or public television.
Want to know more about ITVS policies and procedures for funding? Read other recently asked questions from filmmakers >>
Watch EN ROUTE TO BAGHDAD on Global Voices on PBS WORLD
Prior to his death in a Baghdad bombing attack in 2003, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Sergio Vieira de Mello devoted his life to global humanitarian efforts in countries such as Mozambique, Cambodia and East Timor. EN ROUTE TO BAGHDAD is a portrait of Vieira de Mello and his extraordinary career and a tragic metaphor for the effort to bring stability to Iraq.
Watch a preview below:
EN ROUTE TO BAGHDAD airs Sunday, August 23 at 10:00 PM on Global Voices on PBS WORLD (check local listings).
DDF Funding Deadline Approaching: September 25
Peter Nicks, filmmaker of THE WAITING ROOM
The Diversity Development Fund (DDF) provides up to $15,000 in research and development funding to producers of color to develop single documentary programs for public television. Projects should reach underserved audiences often overlooked by conventional programming. The application deadline is on the horizon—September 25.
Filmmaker Peter Nicks was awarded DDF funding for his project THE WAITING ROOM, an in-depth look at the American healthcare system through the Alameda County Medical Center in Oakland, California.
He was recently featured in several media outlets for his innovative use of social media in filmmaking.
Check out the Videos Worth Watching feature in The New York Times >>
Visit SF360 to learn more about the film >>
Interested in learning more about DDF funding? Read more >>
Watch a video preview of THE WAITING ROOM below:
The Waiting Room Trailer from Document Films on Vimeo.
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