Chris Mehl and director Ray Boyer of PixMix Video Services at the controls, switch live-to-tape meeting for client's webcast. PixMix is located at 156 Western Avenue in Allston. Photo by Adam Stander.

The idea was so obvious that no one had thought of it before.

Why not have the Boston filmmaking community open its doors to the public, much the way artists do at studios and artists' lofts all over Greater Boston?

Last year Michal Goldman, president of Filmmakers Collaborative, did think of it and proceeded to plan the first Filmmakers Open Studios on a Sunday in March.

The occasion was the 25th anniversary of Boston Film/Video Foundation's New England Film/Video Festival and BF/VF co-sponsored the event with Filmmakers Collaborative as part of BF/VF's roster of March events celebrating independent filmmaking.

Goldman conceived Open Studios as a way to help make the local audience more aware of the range and accomplishments of Boston-area filmmaking, give the participating venues a chance to introduce the public to their own individual processes, and offer a chance for the filmmaking community to give something back to the public.

According to Goldman, "we had no idea how it would go. The filmmakers who volunteered to be here at Filmmakers Collaborative all brought things to do, figuring that people would trickle in now and then, separated by vast amounts of down-time."

Were they wrong!

"There were people waiting for us to open our doors, and it never let up until the day's end. The same was true for almost all the participants, regardless of what kind of filmmaking they did, how well-known they were, and what sort of events they were offering."

Goldman estimated 1,000 people collectively visited the 21 participating studios.

Now an annual event, the second Filmmakers Open Studios will take place on Sunday, March 18, 2001. This year 24 studios are participating. Many are returning venues from last year, but there are some notable newcomers.

Cambridge-based Peace River Studios, open from 10 am. - 5 p.m., will be showing two pieces produced for aquariums. The first, produced for a circular 3-screen theatre at the South Carolina Aquarium, follows the journey of a drop of water as it travels from the mountains to the sea. The second, produced for the New England Aquarium's three-screen theater, introduces viewers to the 13 sanctuaries that make up the National Marine Sanctuary system and convey the enormous value of the sites.

Visit the "Sunny 5th Floor Lounge" space inside the shared facility of Brian Careyıs Dexter Media and Mary Chiochios and George Chiochios editing studio - Chiochios Studio, located in the 119 Braintree Street Building. They'll be having Open Studio from 1 - 5 PM.

Another newcomer, HOME, Inc., a non-profit producer of educational curricula and media, will be showing short pieces produced by Boston English High School students for the "Get the Facts about AIDS program" for use within the high school television network.

Other studios and production companies entering the arena this year are Blackside, Inc., Cambridge Community Television, Boston Neighborhood Network, Cityscape Motion Picture Education, Powderhouse Productions, and Richard Bock Sound Production.

As with last year's event there are connections between the New England Film/Video Festival and Filmmakers Open Studios. Bestor Cram of Northern Lights (open 1-5 p.m.) and Mike Majoros are having their feature documentary, AN UNFINISHED SYMPHONY, premiered at the festival. During Open Studios, Northern Lights will be screening film clips about subjects ranging from the rainforests of El Yuengue to the struggle for freedom in South Africa.

Brian Papciak's animated short, WASTELANDS and Jeff Silva's live action short, EBBING, both Festival picks, will be shown during Open Studios at Moody Station Studios in Waltham at 2 and 4 p.m. as part of a group screening.

Alice Stone, member of Women in Film and Video/New England will have her dark comedy narrative short, EXPIRED, premiered at the Festival. Visitors to WIFV can learn more about this important organization supporting the work of women filmmakers.

One of last year's participants, Pix Mix, is doing something unusual that should draw a crowd. With Boston-area blues slide guitarist, Aaron Shadwell, they'll be demonstrating a live multi-camera production complete with live switching, fiber feed, and video streaming.

There's something for everyone at Filmmakers Open Studios!

For more information and a complete schedule, please contact Filmmakers Collaborative at 781-647-1102 or BF/VF at 617-536-1540, or visit www.filmmakerscollab.org, or www.bfvf.org