Things are moving fast and picking up speed. I had a wonderful meeting today with Dave Sluberski, RIT Senior Tenured Professor at RIT and current President of Rochester Audio Visual Association (www.myrava.com). We discussed how our two organizations can work together and found immediate common goals. I will be meeting with the rest of RAVA at their next board meeting to discuss future endeavors as RMM and RAVA will likely have a closely bound future together.
In other good news, Dave was giving me some details abour RIT's new Magic Center (Forgive me if I didn't get that title quite right) - a new building planned on RIT's campus dedicated to mixed use Film and Visual Arts projects. That includes direct connection with RIT's Game Development program in a synergistic relationship revolving around media content. It's exciting because there are talks about making the 30 million dollar facility publicly available in a rental or residency model for industry projects. The details and terms are far from being worked out, but one thing is for sure - it's definitely coming soon (preliminary estimates are completion around Q2-2017).
Also, I met with Nan Whitman and Becca Delany of the Fast Forward Film Festival (www.fastforwardroc.org) which is currently well into its planning stages for 2016. I've been asked to step into Stan Main's previous role as a seat on the Advisory Board and I will be working closely with Nan and Becca to create synergy between FFFF and RMM. On that note, start planning for your submissions as FFFF's deadline is February 2nd. More to come as things unfold on this topic.
So things are looking good for the future of production in Rochester already. RMM is looking to re-title and complete our reorganization by the end of the year, which means a new era in Rochester for Production support. Since the chips haven't quite hit the table I can't give much more information on that topic, but having already had so many great conversations with people in the local production community things are beginning to align.
Sorry to keep things short and sweet, but back to work, so much to do!
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Friday, October 16, 2015
Kicking off Quarterly Topic Series #1 at RMM / Fast Forward Film Fest
Hello fellow Rochester filmmakers. I thought I would give some updates on the progress of RMM in my first few weeks as Chair. So far we've vetted out our potentially new direction with RMM. I don't want to reveal too many specific details as there are still legal and political hurdles to overcome, but things are moving in a very positive direction.
I'm meeting with the President of RCTV this evening to discuss our continued strategic partnership there and I'm very excited about new ventures we are discussing for 2016. Also, I'm meeting with an old friend, the President of Rochester Audio Visual Association (myrava.com) to discuss how we can work together as well.
I think the more the many great film enthusiasts and professionals of Rochester that can come together the stronger our force of momentum will be in really bolstering production locally.
On a side note, the organizers of Fast Forward Film Festival have reached out to start the planning process for the festival in spring of 2016. RMM was an avid supporter earlier this year and I have made the commitment to do so again next. More to come on that front as the planning stages unfold.
In regards to RMM and it's forward strategy the Board and I have unanimously agreed we need more focused educational materials to offer our members. To that end, we've decided to launch a quarterly topic series campaigns where we focus on a deep dive into a specific stage of or discipline related to creating films, starting with arguably the most important part: Pre-Production.
We're going to spend the next 3 months building and designing educational content regarding Pre-production and use our general meetings to present the materials and talk to their use. Along with this we have confirmed that Nick DiBella - Rochester based Producer and Filmmaker, will be our November speaker and is excited to discuss his wisdom on the topic as well. These materials will be immediately available as we complete them and put into a new specially categorized content area we are developing. Look for them soon (www.rochestermoviemakers.org)
This up coming meeting we will start with a 101 overview of what a standard pre-production process looks like and then dive deeper during the next two months meetings. The idea being that each 3 month period will be a book-ended series of content that should help new and amateur filmmakers get a better understanding of all the required steps in developing and planning a project prior to the first scheduled shoots. We will even touch on subjects of funding, planning for distribution and some other business related pieces of producing films.
I'm excited for this series as proper development and pre-production are so commonly overlooked for smaller projects and frankly mean the difference between a high quality end product and just another film to show your friends. after all, aren't we all trying to get better? Until next post - hope you see you at our next meetings!
I'm meeting with the President of RCTV this evening to discuss our continued strategic partnership there and I'm very excited about new ventures we are discussing for 2016. Also, I'm meeting with an old friend, the President of Rochester Audio Visual Association (myrava.com) to discuss how we can work together as well.
I think the more the many great film enthusiasts and professionals of Rochester that can come together the stronger our force of momentum will be in really bolstering production locally.
On a side note, the organizers of Fast Forward Film Festival have reached out to start the planning process for the festival in spring of 2016. RMM was an avid supporter earlier this year and I have made the commitment to do so again next. More to come on that front as the planning stages unfold.
In regards to RMM and it's forward strategy the Board and I have unanimously agreed we need more focused educational materials to offer our members. To that end, we've decided to launch a quarterly topic series campaigns where we focus on a deep dive into a specific stage of or discipline related to creating films, starting with arguably the most important part: Pre-Production.
We're going to spend the next 3 months building and designing educational content regarding Pre-production and use our general meetings to present the materials and talk to their use. Along with this we have confirmed that Nick DiBella - Rochester based Producer and Filmmaker, will be our November speaker and is excited to discuss his wisdom on the topic as well. These materials will be immediately available as we complete them and put into a new specially categorized content area we are developing. Look for them soon (www.rochestermoviemakers.org)
This up coming meeting we will start with a 101 overview of what a standard pre-production process looks like and then dive deeper during the next two months meetings. The idea being that each 3 month period will be a book-ended series of content that should help new and amateur filmmakers get a better understanding of all the required steps in developing and planning a project prior to the first scheduled shoots. We will even touch on subjects of funding, planning for distribution and some other business related pieces of producing films.
I'm excited for this series as proper development and pre-production are so commonly overlooked for smaller projects and frankly mean the difference between a high quality end product and just another film to show your friends. after all, aren't we all trying to get better? Until next post - hope you see you at our next meetings!
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
My Future of Film In Rochester NY
I'm very excited to announce that I was recently voted the new Chair of Rochester Movie Makers (www.rochestermoviemakers.org) aka RMM. RMM has been a non-profit educational collective focusing on amateur film production in the local Rochester area for over 8 years. However, it has grown, shifted and adapted to the community needs since its original inception. The Boards first task with me in the Chair is to restructure the Organizations operational structure to answer what we have discovered to be the "actual" needs of the Rochester production community. To be specific, expanded educational resources, information in the way of what's being shot, when and by who, and who is available to work on projects and when, and to further cultivate the Production Community at large by recruiting some industry professionals in advisory roles to both assist with funding and liaise with key community individuals. I believe this is a potentially strong working model and to be frank about it, just what Rochester needs.
For the last 3-4 years I've been really impressed with my return to Film as a hobby and just how many like minded and talented individuals are here in Rochester, actively pursuing their hobby and thirsty for completing quality projects. What's been missing? The resources, and the details. As a Film student at RIT, I longed to break away from the structured curriculum and shoot the type of projects I wanted to do. Not to down play the standard of RIT's program, quite the contrary - its an incredible program and very well regarded. But even though each of the assignments given were of great value in building ones craft, they are also within someone else's guidelines. For those that graduate on and pursue the Hollywood career path, they will find that trajectory more of the same. So it is a very poignant lesson to learn. Know the walls and produce a quality result within those walls. But this is where Rochester offers sanctuary to real artists of Film.
The term "Film" is an interesting one, as it is generically used to define just about anything that is projected onto a screen these days. But to me, FILM = ART = EXPRESSION. I tend to be a follower of "good" Indie and Art House films and find my resulting experience just as satisfying as solid Hollywood blockbusters. It's all about the viewers experience, as designed by the creator - in this case the "filmmaker". Some people himm and haww about that term since just about everything is shot digitally these days and all the various cast, crew and administrative details of creating a film are not technically referred to as "filmmaking". But none-the-less Rochester offers filmmakers in the broad sense that truly open canvas. The complete freedom to dream, write, shoot, create, display and enjoy that areas like Hollywood do not so easily encourage. In Rochester Film is about love of the craft and its people about the enjoyment and pride of something created. I mean Rochester IS the birthplace of Film, that legacy has not been forgotten or abandoned. Especially with the resent multi-billion dollar deal Kodak signed with major production companies to continue producing large format traditional film for IMAX, 3D and other modern UHD compatible formats.
So what is the future of film in Rochester? I think it's a wide open actively increasing landscape. I think working together with all the local enthusiasts and professionals and bringing them together as a team to build the scaffolding necessary to support a growing production community is both realistic and exciting. We have all the necessary pieces: creatives, talent, resources, capital, and audience. We just need to all step up and help make it happen. Who knows, if we're successful than driving around town we can periodically see various productions in action. If we can start producing high quality content, than we can attract the attention of other Film mecca's around the country possibly the world. If we work together I think the future of film in Rochester is a definite tidal wave waiting to take the production community by storm, if even one good short film at a time.
If you would like to get involved please do contact me at zachary@rochestermoviemakers.org, I will need a lot of help and I cannot do it alone. Happy Filmmaking!
For the last 3-4 years I've been really impressed with my return to Film as a hobby and just how many like minded and talented individuals are here in Rochester, actively pursuing their hobby and thirsty for completing quality projects. What's been missing? The resources, and the details. As a Film student at RIT, I longed to break away from the structured curriculum and shoot the type of projects I wanted to do. Not to down play the standard of RIT's program, quite the contrary - its an incredible program and very well regarded. But even though each of the assignments given were of great value in building ones craft, they are also within someone else's guidelines. For those that graduate on and pursue the Hollywood career path, they will find that trajectory more of the same. So it is a very poignant lesson to learn. Know the walls and produce a quality result within those walls. But this is where Rochester offers sanctuary to real artists of Film.
The term "Film" is an interesting one, as it is generically used to define just about anything that is projected onto a screen these days. But to me, FILM = ART = EXPRESSION. I tend to be a follower of "good" Indie and Art House films and find my resulting experience just as satisfying as solid Hollywood blockbusters. It's all about the viewers experience, as designed by the creator - in this case the "filmmaker". Some people himm and haww about that term since just about everything is shot digitally these days and all the various cast, crew and administrative details of creating a film are not technically referred to as "filmmaking". But none-the-less Rochester offers filmmakers in the broad sense that truly open canvas. The complete freedom to dream, write, shoot, create, display and enjoy that areas like Hollywood do not so easily encourage. In Rochester Film is about love of the craft and its people about the enjoyment and pride of something created. I mean Rochester IS the birthplace of Film, that legacy has not been forgotten or abandoned. Especially with the resent multi-billion dollar deal Kodak signed with major production companies to continue producing large format traditional film for IMAX, 3D and other modern UHD compatible formats.
So what is the future of film in Rochester? I think it's a wide open actively increasing landscape. I think working together with all the local enthusiasts and professionals and bringing them together as a team to build the scaffolding necessary to support a growing production community is both realistic and exciting. We have all the necessary pieces: creatives, talent, resources, capital, and audience. We just need to all step up and help make it happen. Who knows, if we're successful than driving around town we can periodically see various productions in action. If we can start producing high quality content, than we can attract the attention of other Film mecca's around the country possibly the world. If we work together I think the future of film in Rochester is a definite tidal wave waiting to take the production community by storm, if even one good short film at a time.
If you would like to get involved please do contact me at zachary@rochestermoviemakers.org, I will need a lot of help and I cannot do it alone. Happy Filmmaking!
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