WWW stands for Works (in progress), Wrinkles or Whoops (whenever and wherever they happen) and Wraps (completed films and projects of any kind). As always, your contributions to this feature are solicited and encouraged.

Imagine sent Peter Simmons, an independent producer of Film and Television in Newbury, MA to cover an industry finance seminar in Santa Monica, CA. His company OneWorldVideo.com helps independents raise funds for projects. He filed this report:

It was ten PM and I had just returned from a shoot in Maine. Nevertheless, I planned to jump on a plane at dawn the next morning to attend Creative Financing for Film and TV put on by playbackmag.com.

Armed with my motion picture proposal, my script and my development money, I headed for the airport.

Many hours later, I arrived in LA. It was nice to be home. ( I grew up in LA if you can imagine.) The town seemed lit up with commercial potential and hamburger joints.

The next morning I arrived at the conference ready to absorb some nuggets of financing wisdom.

Louise Levison, of Business Strategies, described the process of funding BLAIR WITCH. She pointed out the necessity of keeping your investors updated regularly. The web strategy was always part of the plan. They had 1 million hits before Sundance, and they'd created a "backstory" to generate interest. She recommended you have promotional money in your budget so that you can afford to go to the festivals.

Mark Stolaroff of Next Wave Films described the new possibilities of digital features shot for less money using DV cameras and editing.

A delightful moment was the screening of GARY THE RAT by Kelsey Grammer (yes of Frasier fame), a new three-minute flash animation series about a lawyer who turns into a rat. (See mediatrip.com)

The Internet was a powerful topic at the conference for production, financing and distribution deals. To get an idea of what's up, check out Showbizdata.com, Moviemoney.com, MoviesExchange.com, Hypnotic.com, AtomFilms.com, Filmprofit.com, medialawyer.com, Aiffp.org, RealScreen.com, Cannesmarket.com.

Wending my way back on the plane, I was taken by the potential for New England, the financing possibilities in Canada, the explosion of interest in media on the internet and the amount and sheer force of the film and TV money available.

So it's back to Plum Island for a rest on the snow covered beaches.

Multivision, Inc., Cambridge, MA is celebrating 30 years of digital media design and production by adding to their award-winning roster of personnel, establishing up-to-the-minute digital distribution capabilities, and developing new strategic partnerships which respond to the continued increase in demand for innovative communications solutions.

Recent additions to the staff include: Shannon Brearley - Video Editor, Michael Carr - Account Executive, Donna Foscolos - Senior Graphic Designer, Mary Ellen Hayes - Production Manager, Rob Livie - Art Director, Lucy McKay - Comptroller, Steve Osciak - Video Editor, and Evan O'Sullivan - Producer.

In addition to the new staff appointments, Multivision has expanded its unique commitment to broadcasters and corporate clients who are seeking live video portals via two TV1 lines installed in Studio1 (40' X 40') for "Live Feed" capabilities.

Multivision also continues its reputation as an innovative and pioneering organization, its New Media Department has expanded upon the development of multisynchronous streaming (Multistream) using a proprietary solution that provides clients with full motion video, scrolling text (in any language) and presentation graphics all at the same time. All of this without adding any burden to the user's web site or IT department. Samples of full motion video for the web and information on Multistream can be viewed at www.multivision.com.

Multivision is a leader in the design and production of film, video and new media for broadcasters, filmmakers and innovative corporations anywhere. You can email Jay Heard at jheard@multivision.com.


Everyone is interested in the Digital Cinema versus Film evaluations. In a recent meeting the New England Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers checked out the advances in Digital Projection. Bob Lamm filed a wrinkle or two in this report:

 

Got up at 9am to go check out the Digital Cinema demo at the Framingham General Cinemas on December 9. There was a side-by-side comparison of film versus digital clips of THE PERFECT STORM. I was surprised: Neither was clearly superior: Film was sharper (the digital projector only goes to about 1280x1024), but it had jitter and weave that the video didn't have.

The panel discussion that followed centered on business issues. None of the speakers seemed to think that digital projection is going to displace film prints anytime soon: The entire distribution infrastructure would need to be changed and issues like copy protection of the digital files haven't been resolved. And most of the distribution chains are in tight financial straits (many are in bankruptcy) and don't have the necessary capital to fund this kind of change.

I should also mention that the General Cinemas concession stand is truly something to behold: Forget popcorn and sticky sodas: You and your better half can now decorate the auditorium floor with pizza, chicken nuggets and all sorts of designer drinks. This is the true profit center and it shows. As one speaker put it: Exhibitors are in the food business and the film is just a way to attract hungry customers. Unless someone convinces them that digital projection will attract more people, they aren't going to make the digital investment.

The longer term is less clear: The cost of digital gear is expected to decline and the images will improve too. And maybe some new digital services will be developed that will appeal to people. A prototype advertising system was shown, the appeal to exhibitors was clear! So don't hold your breath: Digital projection is gonna come, but it'll be slow going...

  

Bob Lamm is Manager at CYNC Corp., a video dealership that sells video/multimedia production equipment. He can be emailed at rlamm@cync.com.

Mary Feuer brings Imagine up to date on her newly produced movie called BARSTOW 2008. It's the story of Benny Finch: dreamer, visionary, and affable loser looking for redemption in his hometown of Barstow in the California desert. When his latest dream, becoming Barstow's first male manicurist, fails to bring him the recognition he deserves, Benny embarks on a new quest: to bring the 2008 Olympics to Barstow.

Christy Scott Cashman
plays Farrah Fawcett Finch
in BARSTOW 2008.

Christy Scott Cashman got a chance to display her wild, comic side by playing Farrah Fawcett Finch, Benny's daughter, whose romantic fixation on elderly men is a source of trouble. George Chiochios edited, and Bostonian Saki Fenderson took on the dual roles of Production Manager and Associate Producer; David Melito, a former Bostonian whose short, PALINDROME, was a New England Film & Video winner a few year ago, was the Accountant/Associate Producer. Trish Seeney did the make-up. BARSTOW was written by another New Englander, Chuck Borghese, Creative Director of Mintz and Hoke Advertising in Connecticut, along with Bob Morrow, the project's director (and a non-New Englander, sorry to say). Of course, Mary Feuer (FLOATING) produced the movie.

Paul Willson, who's been seen on "Cheers" and "It's Gary Shandling's Show" among other major TV appearances, plays Benny Finch, and Mindy Sterling, the hilarious star of both AUSTIN POWERS movies (in which she plays Dr. Evil's right-hand woman and sometime lover, Frau Farbissina) is Benny's long-suffering wife Mona. Christy as Farrah Fawcett Finch and David Bonfadini as Erik Estrada Finch round out Barstow's crazy Finch family.

BARSTOW 2008 was shot on digital video in 12 days, from the 25th of September to the 7th of October, and edited on a Final Cut Pro system. The Film has been accepted at Nodance, the world's only DVD-projected film festival. Nodance occurs on Main Street during the Sundance Film Festival. It only selects 6 films for competition. For more information about Nodance visit www.nodance.com or www.6161.com.