Some are still uncertain as to whether we entered the Third Millennium last year or this. Most celebrated and heralded the New Millennium last year. It seems to me there is evidence that even the usual New Year hype is at low ebb for the year 2001. Last January this magazine re-branded and I believe this year we can say successfully re-branded. Last year Imagine also began its series of Calendar Posters that have already become the most popular and most talked about piece of Collectible Media Memorabilia in New England. Our second effort is available this month as we salute the industry through a tribute to Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, except our variation is 2001: A CyberSpace Odyssey. We hope you enjoy it.

This issue is packed to the brim with good news for the industry. In his Establishing Shot, David Kleiler looks at the films that will represent New England at Sundance. All those chosen have our warmest thoughts and congratulations to take with them. Imagine will go along and bring you all the coverage in a subsequent issue. In addition, Mary Feuer's BARTSOW 2008 has been accepted as one of 6 films chosen for Nodance. You can read all about BARSTOW and Nodance in WRAPS in this issue. Carl Hansen presents some predictions for 2001 in his Film Office Watch, others you'll find right here.

First, more congratulations are in order for Paula Kouletsis and Chris Haff of Official Software as their copyright software product is a finalist for an EDDY Award in the Best Resource Software category, by MAC World Magazine. My prediction is that it's a winner! The Boston-based LLC is readying another round of financing for its specialty product, so check it out.

DRUM ROLL! And check out Paula's prediction: "2001 will be a year that gets back to the great beginnings of filmmaking, with a renewed interest in non-predictable story lines and multi-level plots. In film, the follow up to the surprise smash-hit comedy, MEETING THE PARENTS, will be called ŒHappily Everafter.' Two of the first ticket-purchasers will be Brad and Jennifer Pitt, who at the premiere will announce the good news they are expecting twins. They will also announce the names of the newborns-to-be will not be "Peach" and "Mosh" as mistakenly reported in Hollywood tabloids. Both parties agree that although married, they remain friends. Hollywood was unsure how to react to the news."

Bob Lamm, Manager of CYNC Corp and frequent contributor to Imagine, predicts: " The divisions between video, multimedia and Internet production will continue to fall. Many of the same skills are required and many of the tools are beginning to handle all these data types.

"A lot more people will be entering our field, primarily artistic talent because technical expertise won't be as necessary and the entry cost has become so low. Many of these people are desperately needed to clean up some of the messy, confused web sites and interactive presentations that the Œtechies' have come up with.

"A lot of the smaller nonlinear manufacturers are going to have problems keeping up with the big ones with established market share and are going to have to find specialized niches they can dominate or fold."

Actor and Producer, Steve Stapinski, sent these swell predictions: " The SAG strike will only last 3 weeks, since its members will refuse to go to Canada, Ireland or Australia to work on films.

"The number of commercials shot in Massachusetts in 2001 will triple from its 2000 volume. At least 2 multi-million dollar, and 6 $1M independent films will be made in Massachusetts in 2001. At least 3 major studio features will be shot in Massachusetts in 2001. At least one television show proported to be shot in Boston will move from LA and be shot on location at least 50% of the time.

And finally, David Klieler will rent a bigger house for the Woods Hole Film Festival this year."

From the MFO comes this from Timothy Grafft: "I think the incredible amount of talent in the Massachusetts film industry will continue to make a strong impression internationally. Both PicturePark's feature LIFT; directed by DeMane Davis and Khari Streeter, and Northern Light's documentary AN UNFINISHED SYMPHONY will take Sundance by storm. And Scout Productions SESSION 9, directed by Brad Anderson, will be a huge box office success when it's released later in the year."

The Imagine Art Guy Mike Travis says, "Cheny and Lieberman will dump their presidential partners and run the country (probably better). Rumpelstilskin will come out of hiding to form a Boston based advertising/image consulting firm. The dot comedy industry will continue to force the artistic community out of the city making Davis Square the hot beds of creativity, (Fortunately, Dental Arts is there to help make everyone's teeth whiter) The Affleck and Damon duo will attract even more talent and film into New England (with some cooperation from the unions, please). The movie industry will recognize there is real talent just west of Hollywood. David E. Kelley will do another Boston-based series, possibly even using Boston, And millions of people will learn that the Millennium actually begins 2001."

Valerie Weiss, Director of the Dudley House Film Studies at Harvard, looks at 2001 this way: "With the recent success of so many independent films in Boston (LIFT, BLUE DINER) and beyond, more and more people with a hankering for storytelling will be inspired to try their hands at filmmaking. Now that there are many "film programs" in the community (Film Shack, Cityscape, Dudley Film Program at Harvard), people with great ideas and original stories will have the confidence and the support to turn their ideas into films. Digital technology has certainly allowed the filmmaker to spend more time writing a great script rather than acquiring financing and planning complicated shoots. The result will be that we will see a great diversity of topics in new films and slices of life that had previously been hidden from the general public. These topics will finally be portrayed with an insider's expert knowledge and audiences will gain a truer understanding of how the world works."

We finish with Scott Anderson, Harvard Square Scriptwriters, who says: "2001 will bring more of the same, more "Feel Good" movies, more Indies in production, more Indies in theatrical release, more narrow appeal movies (regional, ethnic, genre and belief-based), more union battles and more union losses, more power for distributors, more calls for censorship. The question remains: Is this more of a good thing?"

And, I would like to predict that IVYWOOD will become a household word by the end of 2001, indicating that HOLLYWOOD may be looking at the Northeast as more than an educating, nurturing, technical and creative source of talent and technology for the industry, but a resource for desirable and marketable finished product. Now, let's see, where are we going to put the big sign?

May your New Year be filled with magic and miracles!