This issue begins the seventh year of publishing IMAGINE. It has been my privilege and honor to be its founder and publisher. This is a time when I reflect on our goals, our progress, and where we are in our community. In this 73rd issue of IMAGINE, we look at all aspects of the production industry in New England and bring you news of the people who work in it. IMAGINE connects the dots because our readers engage with us. They connect with IMAGINE. They make a date every month to read IMAGINE cover-to-cover and offer it to others. Our readers consider IMAGINE one of their most important resources and believe that IMAGINE adds value to their lives and pursuits. As always, I am grateful to our advertisers and readers for their continued and faithful support.
IMAGINE outreach hasn’t been without its challenges to be true. As we focus on what we believe is in the best interest of business and creative development for our region the economy has presented some choppy waters, not all of them are to our disadvantage, but some are especially as they relate to Government support. Even though we continue to feel a visceral support for everyone who works in the industry and take our earned ability to promote artists and works and attract new business and opportunity most seriously, the proactive and aggressive support the region really needs just isn’t here at this time.
Recent events are challenging for all of us in New England. These are the kinds of times when frequently the very best is manifested by the super challenged. We see that now as we increase our efforts to be the best we can be and create results. Results that can be accurately measured and improved upon. The networking we do combines the forces of government, entrepreneurs, industry business, our great institutions, and creative, talented, passionate, teaching and dedicated hardworking professionals. Sadly though, the political power of our industry is mostly only visible in our end products, and not in our lobbying or representation in the seats of power. We’re still working on it.
And we’ve have made good progress in that direction, but we have a way to go. In Massachusetts for example, where the number one government priority is creating jobs and economic opportunity, House Bill 303 dedicated to restoring the Mass Film Office, awaits in a funding queue in Ways and Means..
That means we have a lot of slack to take up and we’re doing just that. This month, IMAGINE is totally dedicated to aggressively engage in the attraction of business to New England. To that end we have provided space in this issue for a handy New England Production Guide and we’re going to see it gets around.
This issue will be distributed at NAB in Las Vegas and at AFCI’s 2004 Location EXPO in Santa Monica. Here, along with Connecticut’s Film Office, over 300 film offices from around the world will exhibit what their cities, states and countries have to offer to studio executives, producers, directors, and location scouts in the way of locations, amenities, resources, incentives, financing, and whatever that something is that can’t be found anywhere else, like Mystic River, for example.
As we go to press, Connecticut is the only NE state that will officially exhibit. I remember a time not so long ago when all six states were represented forming a distinguishable section on the exhibit floor. We’re lobbying to see that again in the not too distant future. For this time, IMAGINE will represent all film offices that can’t be there, as well as the heart and soul of New England’s production community as it has so much to offer Film, TV, and Commercial shoots.
In this issue you can read about the high-tech progress Sonalysts Studios is making as they develop virtual set production in Connecticut, High Speed Video’s ability to manufacture over 200,000 DVD/CDs from start to finish in 24 hours, and how indies can afford to shoot on a sound stage. We share some of our escorted tour through Emerson College’s new high tech digs. Plus our great previews and reports about New England Film Festivals.
IMAGINE is supporting Movie Night at the Boston Comedy and Movie Festival on Thursday evening, April 29, at 8:00 PM at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel, in the Terrace Room, 64 Arlington Street, Boston. Join us for rib tickling films and the start of something really big in Boston. There’s no reason the Boston Comedy and Movie Festival can’t be the biggest and brightest in the world.
IMAGINE also is helping to bring a special Nantucket Film Festival advance screening of Brad Anderson’s new feature film THE MACHINIST to the MFA, May 9 at 7 PM. The film will be followed by a Q&A with Brad Anderson and film critic Gerald Peary. IMAGINE is gearing up for our Nantucket Film Festival IMAGINE HOUSE and Champagne Brunch honoring New England Filmmakers were you can really make connections. Past attendees include Michael Williams, David Collins, Brad Anderson, and countless others that are winning awards around the globe.
Shandor Garrison is recently returned from the Bermuda International Film Festival where his highly touted FREEBOX screened to 2 sold-out shows with the Sundance Audience award winning doc, BORN INTO BROTHELS, which was a great bit of programming. “Bermuda was so much fun, such great networking, I'm so sad it had to end.” Shandor met Michael Douglas at a party, found him to be a charming Bermudian, and managed to give him a copy of his DVD. Hopefully he and Catherine watched it! “Jim Sheridan and Willem Dafoe were there all week, and very accessible, as were the other impressive jurors,” says Shandor who immediately engaged in directing a 48-hour film project upon his return.
And speaking of Jim Sheridan, we attended an advance screening of INTERMISSION, presented by Peter Flynn and the Boston Irish Film Fesitval at the Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square featuring a Q&A with Colm Meaney and a celebration at the Grafton Street Pub afterwards. Crime, Drama, Comedy all looking for love or a hug: the most frequent viewer comment is, “I need a pint.”
Independent film research and tracking firm filmBUZZ released in March the first in-depth, nationwide analysis of film festivals, concluding that these events provide important indicators for box office success of specialty films. More than 25,000 audience members, 419 unique film titles, and 63 film festivals were included in the year-long study, conducted throughout 2003.
Why you ask. Preliminary findings show regional events are accurate Indicators of Arthouse box office success. The 40-page analysis also examines the effect of critical reviews on theatrical revenue. In its preliminary analysis of professional film reviews, this report found no correlation between critical praise and either audience ratings or box office success. The report estimates that as many as 2 million movie-goers attend a film festival in the United States each year, reflecting a loyal independent film audience that may be currently underutilized by distributors.
It’s a fascinating study, we’re examining the analysis and before we get to the summers festival launch, we’ll bring much of the result to you. Of course, there are many reasons for film festivals, even though there may be too many of them, it wouldn’t be so if they could become a part of a larger distribution puzzle benefiting the filmmaker in a more financial way.
Think about this: "If film is a director's medium, and television drama is a writer's medium, reality TV is without question a casting director's medium.," so says ROBERT J. THOMPSON, a professor of television and popular culture at Syracuse University!
My best to you for Spring. I will be out west attending LOCATION EXPO and NAB. See you there or back here soon!
Carol Patton