Exhibition

The Evolution of Cinevolve Studios

When it comes to marketing and promoting features, independent productions often get the short end of the stick. Studios will pump all their money toward promoting their blockbuster releases and leave the indie pictures out in the cold, struggling to find an audience. But Cinevolve Studios, set to be in full operation by the upcoming fourth quarter of 2007, promises to change all that and focus on supporting smaller features by any means necessary--focused public relations, traditional and non-traditional distribution methods and grassroots marketing.

Read the Whole Post...

November 4th, 2007 | Category: Exhibitor of the Week, Exhibition | By Andre Ward

No comments (yet!)

' . $phpAds_raw['html'] . '

'; } ?>

Pocket Releasing with Power UP

New movie studios and new divisions of existing movie studios are created (or closed) almost every day, with little to no fanfare. Usually, it's not worth keeping track unless you're a studio suit. Well, Power Up, the only non-profit, all-volunteer, gay-influenced studio is one to keep an eye on. In July 2007, the niche studio announced their new Pocket Releasing division, which will focus on smaller, art-house films with lesbian and gay themes.

Read the Whole Post...

October 8th, 2007 | Category: Exhibitor of the Week, Exhibition | By Brian Hickey

Comments: 1

San Diego UnderSea Exhibition

As relatively low-cost HD video cameras continue to reach the market, natural cinema has the potential to be more startlingly beautiful and full of more visual information than ever before. That's just the type of experience one can look forward to at this year's San Diego UnderSea Film Exhibition. What started out as a few local divers sharing information on shooting and editing underwater footage has evolved into a nationally recognized two-day screening program of the best videos of weird and wonderful undersea life.

Read the Whole Post...

September 24th, 2007 | Category: Exhibitor of the Week, Exhibition | By Nina Boutsikaris

No comments (yet!)

San Francisco Cinematheque

The San Francisco Cinematheque was founded in 1961 with the goal of pioneering the way independent cinema was viewed and enjoyed. Since then, the Cinematheque has grown to become one of the most widely renowned film exhibitors in the world. But the Cinematheque is not only in the business of film; they explore digital media, performance pieces presentations, lectures, discussions and themed retrospectives, too. They even offer information to visiting critics and curators.

Founded by a group of moviemakers, including Bruce Ballie and Chick Strand, the San Francisco Cinematheque was the place for Bay Area artists to show their work in the 1960s. Along the long and winding way, the Cinematheque has established many partners to achieve their goal of furthering independent film.

Read the Whole Post...

September 10th, 2007 | Category: Exhibitor of the Week, Exhibition | By Brian Hickey

No comments (yet!)

' . $phpAds_raw['html'] . '

'; } ?>

Film Street

â€œDo you love the summer holidays but hate being bored? Then why don't you enter the Film Street Summer Shorts Competition?â€ asks Britain's premier interactive Website for movie-loving kids. Film Street caters to young moviemakers, with games, resources, reviews, message boards and contests just for them. Cartoon characters guide them through the ins and outs of everything cinema, from storyboarding to lighting design. By just clicking a mouse, children can explore all the possibilities of making movies.

Read the Whole Post...

September 3rd, 2007 | Category: Exhibitor of the Week, Exhibition | By Nina Boutsikaris

No comments (yet!)

Exhibitor of the Week: IndieOrbit.com

A new kid moved onto the block when IndieOrbit.com launched in early April 2007. Be wise and prepare for the revolution. Founded by William Cicchino and Los Angeles moviemaker Javier Ruisanchez, the young site offers its Web space and services to any artist looking for the next step in independent distribution. “Finding a distributor is the last link in the Hollywood chain holding back the indie filmmaker from reaping the profits,” says Cicchino. “I created IndieOrbit.com as an alternative.”

The site’s concept is “true Web distribution,” which means that for less than $200 your movie can be made available online to paying customers for a six-month period. That’s rightâ€”paying customers, plus space enough to sell advertising on your designated page. Which means you can make that money back and conceivably distribute your film for less than what you spent on crew meals for one week! You set the price and keep the rights with IndieOrbit.com.

“I see putting films on IndieOrbit.com as one of the standard steps in the process of distributing films, just as entering festivals is a standard now,” offers Cicchino of his hope for his online venture. “Whether as a sole form of distribution, a means to attract theatrical distribution or just a means to recoup some of your production costs, IndieOrbit.com will be a mainstream tool for independent filmmakers.”

Find out about IndieOrbit’s piracy protection enforcement (customers pay for a copy-proof, 48-hour rental) and other special features atâ€"that’s right, you guessed itâ€”IndieOrbit.com.

Sound Off: For worldwide distribution, which would you prefer: Getting into a few festival screenings or posting your film online on a site like IndieOrbit.com? Sound off in our comments section!

â€"Mallory Potosky

May 6th, 2007 | Category: Exhibitor of the Week, Exhibition | By MovieMaker Staff

Comments: 2

Exhibitor of the Week: Ironweed Films

Though some might mourn the decline of box office numbers in recent years, the fading out of the movie theater as a venue of choice has made way for some true innovations in film exhibition. Netflix has popularized the rise of the Internet and the ease of renting by mail, but what options exist for cinephiles who are looking for something off the beaten path?

Ironweed Films fills this void with their monthly Film Club, which sends a DVD compilation to its members showcasing the best of today’s socially-conscious moviemaking. Even better, the DVD is yours to keep. “We look for important, newer films that have not yet received a wider distribution. Movies that deal with meaningful issues--censorship, war, our impact on the environment,” says David Steuer, head of production at Ironweed’s parent company, Act Now Productions. For instance, the latest installment of the Film Club, which explored the relationship between humans and the natural world, included a portrait of three bull-riding champions, a look at the local reaction to Timothy Treadwell’s death by bear mauling in Alaska and an interview with Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Mattha.

In addition to the Film Club, Ironweed works with organizations like the Earth Day Network to create action campaigns around the films that they screen. For a limited time, MovieMaker readers are invited to get a FREE TRIAL MONTH for the cost of shipping (just $2.95) and then only $14.95 per month thereafter. Log on to
www.ironweedfilms.com/affiliates/moviemaker/offer070227e to sign up or for more information.

Sound Off: Do you watch many “socially-conscious” films? Why or why not? Do you see film primarily as a vehicle for entertainment, or for effecting change? Talk back in the comments section!

--Jennifer Straus

April 2nd, 2007 | Category: Exhibitor of the Week, Exhibition | By MovieMaker Staff

No comments (yet!)

' . $phpAds_raw['html'] . '

'; } ?>

Exhibitor of the Week: Warner Home Video

Warner Brothers has long been a household name. Originally the family distribution and production outfit entertained only those audiences paying to sit in a theater. Now, as part of the Warner Bros. Entertainment empire and the Time Warner family, Warner Home Video (WHV) brings cinematic entertainment right to a movie lover’s front door. As the world’s largest global video distributor, WHV offers 7,000 features, 40,000 television titles and more than 14,000 animated movies to its consumers--many under the Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video, New Line Home Video and MGM brand names.

Starting with James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart and running all the way to Leonardo DiCaprio (both Blood Diamond and The Departed are Warner Home Video releases) and Robert Downey Jr. (A Scanner Darkly), for those looking for a movie to watch in the comfort of home, chances are it will be from Warner Home Video. And thatâ€™s something that will remain true for many years to come, with the Harry Potter series already a WHV staple and box office hits Happy Feet and 300 just itching for a release date.

Sound Off: When Warner Bros. Entertainment began, directors like Howard Hawks and Darryl Zanuck were on the payroll. Today’s studios work differentlyâ€”optioning works from directors of varied acclaim and character. It’s part of the reason why Warner Home Video can bring the works of both independent and blockbuster moviemakers alike to anyone with a working DVD player. The newer system benefits the viewer, but what does it do for the moviemaker? Send us your feedback in our “Comments” section.

--Mallory Potosky

March 19th, 2007 | Category: Exhibitor of the Week, Exhibition | By MovieMaker Staff

No comments (yet!)