Celebrating its fifth anniversary this May, Filmmakers Open Studios is a unique cultural event that showcases the work and techniques of Boston’s thriving film and video community and creates the opportunity for emerging and established filmmakers to meet, network, screen, and discuss each others’ films and videos. Unlike film festivals or workshops, Filmmakers Open Studios invites visitors into a wide range of production companies and filmmakers’ studios to speak one-on-one with industry professionals, try out the tools they use, and talk with them about their work. The array of studios and filmmakers represented reflect the range of work being done in Greater Boston: animation, experimental, features, documentary, music videos, and corporate. At Moody Station Studios in Waltham aspiring animators can draw on film to create their own “camera-less” animations. At Rampion Visual Productions in Watertown, visitors can try out the “green screen” and project themselves onto background footage. At the Frame Shop, outside of Watertown Square, filmmakers can bring still photos or flat artwork and a blank videotape and see it come to life at a video photo-motion session. At the Film Posse in Boston, visitors can meet some of the city’s most prominent independent filmmakers and see clips of the films they’ve produced for PBS. Video Transfer will again be showing the winners of its annual short video 580 Film Festival, and, in the same location, the Center for Independent Documentary will be setting up shop and showing examples of its members work. A staged screenplay reading is in the works for Saturday along with new venues, and other fun surprises! The weekend events are free, open to the public, and accessible by public transportation. Program books will be available during the weekend with schedules, descriptions of events, times, and maps. A downloadable PDF version will be available on the web site soon.

It’s a great weekend for the film community, Saturday, May 1 for Boston, Allston/Brighton, and Brookline venues and Sunday May 2 for Newton, Waltham, and Watertown venues. Times vary. Please check web site for complete schedule of times & locations.

This year, Filmmakers Collaborative is planning a special ancillary event to celebrate Filmmakers Open Studios’ fifth anniversary milestone. Filmmakers Information Night will take place on Wednesday, May 12 from 5:00-10:00 pm at Northeastern University’s Curry Student Center Ballroom at 360 Huntington Ave. in Boston. The celebratory evening will begin with a “meet and greet” from 5:00 - 6:00 pm, where refreshments will be served, followed by an array of informational panels, seminars, and tables, including a mini-trade show and silent auction. The evening will be geared toward all levels of filmmakers, from those finishing up film school to seasoned producers. To satisfy a range of filmmaking experience, there will be panels on “Where To Go When Film School Ends,” “Funding and Distribution,” and two Hi-Definition Video panels - “How Filmmakers Are Working with Hi-Def” and one specifically addressing issues surrounding hi-definition post-production. Fiscal sponsors such as Filmmakers Collaborative, the Center for Independent Documentary, Central Productions, and Documentary Educational Resources will discuss the services and production support they offer; Lyda Kuth from the LEF Foundation, and other local funders, will be on hand to discuss their funding initiatives; Chris O’Donnell, the Business Manager for I.A.T.S.E. 481, will be leading a panel on union jobs and working with unions; Entertainment attorney Sandra Forman, fresh from the Reel Screen Summit, will offer consultations on copyright and other legal issues for filmmakers. In addition to the panels and seminars, film/video vendors will be showing their latest wares and numerous exciting items, ranging from film/video equipment and rentals to tickets to cultural events, will be up for grabs at a silent auction. Admission to the evening is $10. All proceeds to benefit Filmmakers Collaborative, a non-profit organization committed to production support for independent filmmakers and outreach programs that bring high-quality films and filmmaking education to the public.