SFSDF - It's A Film School, Not A Typo

A quick update from SFSDF.

We've been hard at work putting the finishing touches on our current feature film, MOONLIGHT SONATA and are gearing up for the Mill Valley Film Festival and the premier of AROUND JUNE.

See you there.

Nehst Media Enterprises

545 8th Avenue, Suite 401

New York, New York 10018

Tel: (201) 941-4677 Fax: (917) 591-6813

NEHST STUDIOS TO HOST

 “BOOT CAMP” FILM TRAINING

Larry Meistrich Offers Opportunity of a Lifetime 

to SF Screen Writers & Filmmakers

NEHST Studios will train San Francisco area aspiring filmmakers

and writers looking for their first big break,

and company executives will be on hand seeking new ideas

and talent for a $250 film fund slate of projects coming up.

WHAT:        Filmmakers Boot Camp

WHEN:       May 2-4, 2008 (Fri., 6pm-10pm, Sat. 10am-6pm & Sun., 10am-6pm)

WHERE:    San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking, 

                    2565 Third St., San Francisco, CA

WHO:         Writers, Directors, Producers, Anyone!

HOW:         Register online at www.filmboot.com for SF boot camp.

FEES:
  •  GENERAL ENROLLMENT: $395
  •  STUDENTS: $150 (enter SFSTU150 as discount code when registering online)
  •  FILM ORG. DISCOUNT: $300 -- available to members of BAWIFT & SF CUTTERS. (enter     SFORG300 as discount code when registering online.)

The Filmmakers Boot Camp is taught by Larry Meistrich, NEHST Studios Chairman, Founder and Hollywood insider. Meistrich offers a rare opportunity for local aspiring filmmakers and writers to learn the A-Z’s of successful filmmaking from his own experiences and successes. Meistrich founded the first indie film studio ‘The Shooting Gallery’ and is the award-winning producer of Sling Blade, Belly, You Can Count on Me, and Croupier. “We are working hard to help break down the Hollywood barriers and make sure other talented aspiring film makers and actors can have access and take part in the industry as well,” states Meistrich.

The Filmmakers Boot Camp is a three day intensive workshop which will cover the how to's of; producing, financing, filmmaking, and content creation. Topics include: how the business is changing/strategies you can use to succeed, career opportunities in the new media, and secrets to pitching your ideas and producing/negotiating/distributing a feature film. All Film Boot Camp attendees will get an insider’s look at how to navigate the film industry and then will have the chance to pitch and potentially sign their own production deal. Over 7 deals have been made already… Are you next?

For information and online registration, visit www.filmboot.com or www.nehst.com

ATTEND BAY AREA WOMEN IN FILM & TELEVISION’S HOLIDAY PARTY - PLAY THE RAFFLE WITH A CHANCE TO WIN $500 OFF A CLASS AT SFSDF!

You are cordially invited to attend BAWIFT's annual not-to-be-missed Holiday Party.

DATE: Wednesday, December 12, 2007
TIME: 7:30 pm – 10 pm
LOCATION: The Verdi Club, 2424 Mariposa Street @ Potrero, San Francisco

Gather with Bay Area Women in Film & Television in celebration of all things seasonal with great music, food, drink and a chance to meet up with your fellow film and media folks, see old friends, meet new ones, or just enjoy the holiday cheer...

You'll also have the chance to take part in our Raffle featuring amazing prizes and packages from esteemed local film and media companies, festivals, organizations, studios, schools, filmmakers and more!

BAWIFT's Annual Holiday Party has always been the perfect opportunity to connect with the women of BAWIFT and others in the film community, talk shop, catch folks up on current projects and make connections for the future.

If you are a member of Chicks-Chat or work in film or media in the Bay Area and have been "meaning to make it to a BAWIFT event" this is a great introduction.

By supporting our Raffle at the party (tickets are $5 each), you can win yourself a fantastic Prize, Package or holiday gift for someone at the same time you are helping support BAWIFT. Your support helps us to continue to provide our monthly events, networking opportunities, membership, website resource & Chicks-Chat User Group for women in film and media in the Bay Area.

COST:
Attendance to our Holiday Party (like all BAWIFT events) is Free for current BAWIFT members and only $5 for non-members and $3 for non-BAWIFT Members with Student ID

The BAWIFT Holiday Party is open to ALL the BAWIFT community - both Women AND Men alike - so feel free to bring your partner, boyfriend, girlfriend, colleague(s) you want to connect with the BAWIFT community, your co-worker, neighbor...

Let us know if you can make it by RSVP-ing on the evite (click on link below) and we look forward to seeing many of you at the Verdi Club on Wed., December 12th.

Happy Holidays from the Board of Directors of BAWIFT!

LINK TO EVITE:
http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?inviteId=VEPTNIDPREQLQRZDQKYV&li=iq&src=email&trk=aei3

JAN. 9 BAWIFT PRESENTS ANOTHER IN ITS POPULAR REEL SUCCESS: REEL SUCCESS STORY: BALLETS RUSSES

Reel Success Story: BALLETS RUSSES
Bay Area Women in Film and Television’s January General Meeting Event

WOMEN ONLY

Join Bay Area filmmakers Dayna Goldfine and Dan Geller to hear how they took their feature documentary BALLETS RUSSES all the way to Sundance, the Toronto Film Festival and beyond. Named a top 10 by Time Magazine and The San Francisco Chronicle, this delightful documentary tells the incredible story of fifty years of the Ballets Russes, a dance company of revolutionary Russian artists. The filmmakers will discuss how they produced and financed the film, secured a treasure trove of rare archival material, targeted audiences, and released the film theatrically, on cable and DVD. They’ll share their BALLETS RUSSES Reel Success Story…and a few war stories as well.

Come for an inside look at what it takes to be successful working feature documentary makers in the Bay Area. The filmmakers will also tell us about SATAN CAME TO EDEN, their latest project currently in production, another historical documentary they describe as “a gripping tale of idealistic dreams gone awry set in the brutal yet alluring landscape of the Galapagos Islands in the 1930s.”

DATE: Wednesday January 9, 2008

TIME:
7:00 p.m. Networking and light refreshments
7:30 - 9:00 p.m. Panel
9:00 - 9:30 Networking

LOCATION: San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking
2565 Third St., Suite #337, between 22nd & 23rd Streets, San Francisco, CA. Street parking is usually available.

ADMISSION: FREE for current Members, $5 general admission, $3 for students 
with ID

****Reminder: unlike BAWIFT special events, our monthly meetings are for women only. So please, if your loved one or bud asks if he can join you or has given you a lift and wants to stick around, let him know that monthly meetings are for WOMEN in media, film and television only.****

Featured Speakers Bios: For over sixteen years, Emmy-award winning directors/producers DAYNA GOLDFINE and DAN GELLER have created critically acclaimed multi-character documentary narratives that braid their characters’ individual personal stories to form a larger portrait of the human experience. Their previous work includes ISADORA DUNCAN: Movement from the Soul, NOW & THEN: From Frosh to Seniors, and KIDS OF SURVIVAL: The Art and Life of Tim Rollins + K.O.S. Their documentaries have aired on PBS, Sundance Channel and received theatrical distribution. Together they’ve received funding from The National Endowment for the Arts, The Pacific Pioneer Fund, Fleishhacker Foundation, and awards from The Emmy Awards and The Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Please refer to the information on location and directions to the School provided below. There are two campus locations for SF School of Digital Filmmaking if you look on their website. Below we provide the correct location for this event.

Location: San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking
2565 Third St., Suite #337, between 22nd & 23rd, San Francisco, CA 94107

Note: At the front door, look up SF School of Digital Filmmaking in the building directory. You will see the code number *033# Dial that number and you will be buzzed in. Come to the third floor by the stairs or the elevator, which is beyond the stairwell and through the
first door.

THE 7th ANNUAL FCPUG SUPERMEET TICKETS ON SALE NOW! - - PLAY THE RAFFLE WITH A CHANCE TO WIN $500 OFF A CLASS AT SFSDF!

The 7th Annual Macworld FCPUG SuperMeet

Join San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking, Boston and SF Cutters, and FCPUGs from around the world at Macworld for the largest gathering of FCP users and Gurus on the Planet!

Robertson Auditorium, Mission Bay Conference Center - UCSF
1675 Owens Street
San Francisco, CA 94158
Phone: 866.431.UCSF
Check out the space! http://www.ahl-missionbay.com/gallery/index.cfm

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2008 - 7:00PM - 10:00PM (Doors open 5:00PM)

Why? Because you need to learn something.
How Much? - $10.00 per person. $15.00 at the door. Ticket will include 2 raffle tickets.
Any raffle prizes? Of course.
Who should attend? - Anyone and everyone who wants to learn something
Whats on the agenda? - It's Super Secret.

Tickets on sale NOW! Click here!
http://fcpugsupermeet.eventbrite.com/

Buy your tickets Now - the MacWorld Final Cut Pro Users Network
Supermeet has sold out for the last three years in a row, as ticket
sales are now climbing, we anticipate a possible early sellout, maybe
the organizers get to have a holiday meal.....

Click on this link or put it in your browser to view
http://www.lafcpug.org/macworld_08.html

Raffle Prizes listed on the left, nearly $20,000 value of products and
services and climbing.

Event Sponsors on the on Top Banner and to the Right - great education
on who's who in digital video and film. Many of the Sponsors' top
managers will be onsite at tables to explain their products and
services, answer questions, and everyone has a great time. Click on
the Logos and learn a lot about editing and producing Digital Video
and Film.

PIXEL CORPS HUB PRESENTS AN INTERVIEW WITH SFSDF GRADUATE, JOSH HARRIS ABOUT TECHNIQUES IN HIS TRAILER FOR 'PRIEST'S AWAKENING'

We all have hopes and aspirations for our career paths. We all have dreams and visualize greatness in leaps and bounds, but also in small steps because we know that to get from here to there, it takes hard work, sacrifices, a whole lot of help and a single-minded fixation on believing in ourselves against all odds, against the naysayers, against those lacking vision of their own that what we imagine we can become, we will become. We are artisans. We are visionaries. We are dreamers.

Josh Harris has a dream and a whole lot of enthusiasm that goes along with it. At its core, a project close to his heart. For Josh the thought of whether he will prevail has never crossed his mind. He has set his eyes upon a goal and step by step, he moves closer to realizing his dreams. Josh Harris will prevail.

But where does all this stem from? And just what is this vision that occupies his every thought?

View full article:
http://www.sfdigifilm.com/news_pdfs/pixel_awakening.pdf

BRUCE SMITH’S, FINE WINE SELECTED TO SCREEN AT THE CASTRO THEATRE OCT 11 AND 12

FINE WINE, Written and Directed by SFSDF student, Bruce E. Smith was selected to screen at the Good Vibrations Erotic Film Festival at the Castro Theatre. Fine Wine will be playing at the Castro Theater on October 11th and 12th to the thrill of audiences. It is a rare opportunity to get screened on one of the largest remaining single screen theaters in the Country (it seats 1400).

The Castro Theatre is truly an acre of seats in a palace of dreams. Come on out and see some truly interesting people and some bizarre and entertaining films. Ticket Information etc

2nd Annual Good Vibrations Amateur Erotica Film Competition

Good Vibrations, the legendary destination for sex-positive products, announces The Second Annual Good Vibrations Amateur Erotic Film Competition. The premiere for this event will be held at the beautiful Castro Theatre in San Francisco. There will also be an East Bay showing at the Parkway Speakeasy Theater in Oakland.

INDUSTRY PRO CALLS 'PRESQUE ISLE' ENCHANTING

“That was a very watchable, enchanting film, and its imagery lingered
in my mind for several days afterward. My compliments to you and your
crew for coming through with a soulful creation and a powerful
example of cinematic storytelling.”
Christian Schneider
Director of Photography
Filmmaking Professional

SAM CHASE, DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY, ON SFSDF'S 3RD FEATURE FILM, 'MOONLIGHT SONATA' DELIVERS ONE LAST WEEPY THANKS AND FAREWELL

Hey Everybody,

”I just wanted to deliver one last weepy  thanks and farewell. I had a great time and having spent the last two days getting caught up on dailies I was floored by the quality of our footage. I think it was a worthwhile and challenging experience for us all. For the pros Moonlight Sonata was a chance to remember that filmmaking doesn't always need to be a money-driven cutthroat world and for the students it was an unmatchable opportunity to get a genuine feel for what it's like to work in the business - not parking crew cars (that was my first job in the biz) or fetching coffee,  but as a propping, camera assisting or editing. Several of you even walked away with marketable skills and/or even jobs. Pretty cool. It was a great chance for us all  to learn as well as improvise. Watching the footage from scenes we shot in the woods I was struck by the beauty of a gentle  mist floating through the dappled light and thought "how lucky I was to get  a misty day"... then I remembered Heather chicken-scratching the dusty trail to get that effect. What we lacked in resources we made up in heart and you all had that in spades. I couldn't have been more impressed with each and every one of you - you're professionalism and your dedication blew me away. I wish you all the greatest success in your work and your lives and encourage you to keep at whatever it is that fills your dreams. Stay in touch and keep smiling.”

All The Best
Sam Chase
http://www.samchasedp.com

BAWIFT PRESENTS “NOW CLEAR THIS!: MUSIC RIGHTS 101, HOSTED BY SFSDF

Featuring Brooke Wentz
Thursday, November 15th, 2007
Rights Workshop founder Brooke Wentz will share information on music rights for film, television, and soundtrack production. This panel is ideal for independent filmmakers, producers and composers. The topics to be covered are: copyright clearance, synchronization and master use licensing, music supervision, public domain and music cue sheets. Come for an in-depth look at the difficult climate of the music industry today and how it relates to the visual arts.The meeting will begin with networking and a light reception followed by the panel discussion.

DATE:
Thursday November 15, 2007

TIME:
7:00 p.m. Networking and light refreshments
7:30 - 9:00 p.m. Panel
9:00 - 9:30 Networking

San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking 2565 Third St., Suite #337, between 22nd & 23rd Streets San Francisco CA

PANELISTS:
Brooke Wentz, Founder, The Rights Workshop
Other panelists to be announced

FEATURING:
BROOKE WENTZ is a 25-year veteran of the music and recording industry. Her business, the Rights Workshop, provides music supervision, licensing, rights clearance and digital promotions. Ms. Wentz supervises music for film (The Devil & Daniel Johnston, Ballets Russes, Imelda, The Unforeseen, The Weather Underground) and television (ESPN, HBO, Discovery), soundtracks, artists’ commissions and soundtrack productions. She headed up the music department for the ESPN networks and was Manager of A&R Administration for Arista Records. She is a Billboard award-winning producer and has produced over 25 recordings and soundtracks, including the Times Square Millennium Celebration.

Although many BAWIFT special events include both men and women, our general monthly meetings, such as this one, are for women only. This event is Free for current BAWIFT members, $5 for non-BAWIFT members. $3 for non-BAWIFT members with student ID.

'MOONLIGHT SONATA', SFSDF's 3rd FEATURE FILM ANNOUNCES WRAP OF PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY

"MOONLIGHT SONATA", our third independent feature film at SFSDF by the Fog City Pictures, has wrapped its principal photography on October 31st, after 5 weeks of shooting in the Bay Area ( in HD, Digital Format ). After completing a few pickup scenes, the film will be edited for submission to prestigious Film Festivals and will be prepared for wide theatrical release.

Celik Kayalar, PhD, the director of our "Film Acting Program" at SFSDF wrote, directed and executive-produced the psychological thriller. The producers were Jeremiah Birnbaum, the Founder of Fog City Pictures, and Milena Grozeva-Levy, one of our Digital Filmmaking Faculty.

"Moonlight Sonata" is the story of a privileged San Francisco family, the difficult moral choices its members make and the consequences they have to face, told in the genre of a modern psychological thriller with surprising twists and turns along the way, all culminating in a cliff-hanger climax.

The production boasted a large and highly talented and accomplished cast and crew from San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. Sam Chase was the master cinematographer on the set, visiting from New York. Cast members included distinguished Los Angeles actors M.J. Karmi and Irena A. Hoffman as the female-leads, and Sita Young, P. David Miller, Nate Reese and Ann-Marie Jolly featured in major supporting-roles.

The esteemed San Francisco actor & director Warren David Keith was cast as the male-lead who also teaches one of our "Advanced Film Acting" Classes at SFSDF.  Two of our other Film Acting Faculty, Celia Shuman and Brian D. Scott also had supporting roles in the movie.

Twenty-two of our own Acting Students at SFSDF were among the cast members of “Moonlight Sonata” ( all speaking-parts ). Several of the 22 were major supporting-roles that took many days to shoot. Here are all their names, in no particular order:

Taren Howes, Edith Reiner, Maggie Grant, Kay Ewing, Aimee McCrary, Jinnifer Jacobs, Goldie Chan, Joan Laqui, Hueiyen Tsai, Ashley Allen, Katrina Gimenez, June Barnard, Sarah Leight, Daniel Will-Harris, Micci Toliver, Tony Williams, Marshell Harwell, Roy Hylton, Vincent Leddy, Brendan Sweeney, Nate Duncan and Johann Schiffer.

A few of our Acting Students had non-speaking parts: Chris Leidecker, Mauro Pivi, Michelle Grey, Dawn Green ( Eli Kramer: his scenes are still to be shot ). In the pickup scenes we plan to shoot soon, another four small roles will be cast among our own Acting Students, as well.

"AROUND JUNE" CUT THE TRAILER CONTEST!

“Around June” Movie Trailer Contest Invites Aspiring Filmmakers to Cut the Trailer

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (October 15) – An online editing contest to cut the winning movie trailer for the upcoming feature film, “Around June,” will launch on October 15th on the CineWave station at Podango (http://cinewave.podango.com).

During his weekly CineWave online video show, director James Savoca will introduce themes from his movie, “Around June,” over the course of seven weekly shows, offer tips on how to cut a great trailer, and invite the participation of film editors and enthusiasts.

“We’re launching the “Around June” movie trailer contest to involve aspiring filmmakers in our motion picture and create buzz in advance of festival screenings,” noted director James Savoca.

Web-based contestants will be provided with downloadable clips from the film and access to online editing tools. To qualify, movie trailer submissions must be between 60 and 90 seconds in length. Music should be original scored music that you own the copyright for or cleared for use by the copyright owner. The submission deadline is November 22, 2007. Based on the votes by judges and viewers, the winning trailer will be announced in a CineWave podcast on December 3, 2007 and included in the “Around June” DVD. The winning entrant will receive an iPhone.
 
Entrants should upload movie trailers to YouTube and send an email with a link to the video to Around.June@gmail.com In your email please provide full contact information with your email, your website/blog and “snail mail” address.
 
"Around June" is a feature film directed by James Savoca (Sleepwalk) starring Samaire Armstrong (Dirty Sexy Money, Entourage), Brad Wiliam Henke (October Road, Sherry Baby) and Jon Gries (Napoleon Dynamite, The Astronaut Farmer), currently in post-production.
 
For more information visit http://AroundJune.com.
 
 Production Team

Writers/Directors: James Savoca, Achim Voermanek
Producers:  Scott Bourne (Podango Productions)
Executive Producers: Jeremiah Birnbaum, Stephen Kopels (San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking)
Editor:   Staci Degagne
 

# # #

About CineWave
CineWave is a video podcast station covering emerging trends in the marketing and producing of independent films. Featuring new voices in independent cinema, CineWave provides a platform for young filmmakers to promote their movies and discuss their filmmaking technologies.
 
About Podango
Podango is the online video and audio network that enables publishers and advertisers to “get heard” by today’s hard-to-reach, niche audiences. Featuring such hit shows as The Apple Phone Show, Podango hosts over 1,000 programs — including a number routinely found among the top twenty-five podcast shows on iTunes — on a wide variety of interests and topics. Through the company’s hosting and syndication services, corporate, professional and independent publishers deliver episodic video and audio programs, and targeted ads to highly qualified audiences. Podango also owns and operates its own a state-of-the-art production studio in the Bay Area. For more information please visit: www.podango.com <http://www.podango.com/> .
 

SFSDF Student Films WIN "BEST OF FESTIVAL, PEACE REEL MEDALLION" at BERKELY FILM FESTIVAL

BEST OF FESTIVAL
PEACE REEL MEDALLION

STUDENT FILMMAKER

San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking:
³Paul Wade² - Michael Cho
³Lanesplitting² - Chet Patterson
³World Within Worlds² - Marlene Sinicki
³Improved Odds² - Dawn Green
³San Francisco In the Eye of the Beholder² - Ephantus Njenga

Films will be showing on Saturday, October 5 between 4:45 to 5:15

For info: http://www.berkeleyvideofilmfest.org/entry%20info%202007.shtml

SFSDF Student Chet Patterson's 'lanesplitting' Accepted Into Canadian Film Festival

SFSDF Student Chet Patterson's 'LANESPLITTING'
Accepted Into Canadian Film Festival

  Fresh off the heels of his film's acceptance into the highly competitive 16th Annual Berkeley Video and Film Festival, SFSDF summer workshop Chet Patterson's documentary 'lanesplitting' has been       
     accepted into yet another festival –the WILDsound Film Festival to be held October 23rd at the Canadian National Film Board theatre in downtown Toronto, Canada.   "It's unbelievable," said Patterson. "Getting accepted into the Berkeley festival was SUCH an  
honor, and it's extremely validating to have the film accepted at another festival." In addition to having his film screened in another country, Patterson noted there were only ten films accepted into the entire festival program, and there was no distinction between those produced by students and those produced by professionals.
 
  "Initially, I submitted 'lanesplitting' to the festival because they guaranteed feedback on your film, even if it wasn't accepted," said Patterson.  "Now, because it's an 'audience feedback' festival, I'll have an entire theater giving – hopefully – constructive criticism of my work, rather than just a couple of reviewers."     
 
Scheduled to moderate the film festival discussion is Jerry Ciccoritti, "one of Canada's most provocative and in-demand directors" according to the Internet Movie Database (IMDb), and the director of such critically-acclaimed films as Trudeau, Boy Meets Girl and Paris, France.
 
     Patterson noted that after the screening, 'lanesplitting' will get posted on their website (see http://www.wildsound-filmmaking-feedback-events.com/watch_films_online.html), which, according to WILDsound organizers, receives thousands of visitors every week, "and they’ll actually pay me when people watch my movie.  Very cool."  
  
When asked about works in progress, Patterson is somewhat coy about the subject of his next documentary, saying only that it's a piece about "car communication … it just seems I tend to gravitate more towards 'contemporary social issue' documentaries, rather than, say, personal portraits," he said.  
  
  He noted he's already worked on other productions since this summer's workshop, most recently with fellow classmate Michael Connell on a documentary about the Benecia Yacht Club.  In between festivals and gigs, Patterson continues to seek full-time video production work, noting that "having a documentary shown on the festival circuit hopefully adds to my marketability."     
 
chet patterson
www.echet.com <http://www.echet.com>
starving fish productions

"NAME DAY" RECIPIENT OF COLUMBINE AWARD AT MOONDANCE

"NAME DAY" RECIPIENT OF COLUMBINE AWARD AT MOONDANCE

September 18th, 2007

Filmmaker Nikhil Prakash won the Columbine award for best short film
at the Moondance International Film Festival, which was held from
September 7th to 9th, 2007, at the Universal City Walk in Hollywood.
The film, "Name Day", which follows an Agnostic Arab-American's
journey from the dusk of murderous revenge to the dawn of spiritual
awakening after his devout Muslim brother is killed in a hate crime
during the aftermath of 9/11, is both powerful and timely.

"I hope people see this as more than just another nine-eleven story,"
comments Prakash. "My vision for the movie was to observe a man wade
through the ocean of hatred, depression, and loss that is drowning him
to finally experience a glimpse of the pure, pristine state that's at
the core of us all. The current world with its anti-Muslim hostility
and fear of terrorism is simply a backdrop for this character's
journey."

"Name Day", which was made for a thousand dollars with limited crew,
was one of many projects Prakash made while he was attending the San
Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking. The film premiered earlier
this year at the Arclight Cinemas as part of the Indian Film Festival
of Los Angeles. This marks the first project where Prakash
simultaneously wore the hats of writer, director, producer, and lead
actor.

Moondance International Film Festival's primary goal is to present
films and scripts that have the power to raise awareness about vital
social issues and that inspire positive action. The Moondance
Columbine award is intended to recognize films which reflect
non-violent conflict resolution.

Prakash is currently working on multiple feature scripts while
actively seeking fresh projects. He was recently invited to shadow the
director for an episode of the hit CBS show, "Cold Case"; having found
the experience very rewarding, he is also focusing his efforts on
opportunities within television.

His website is www.atmafilms.com, and he can be reached by email at
nikhil@atmafilms.com, or by phone at 510-299-9437.

Nikhil Prakash
SFSDF Graduate
1-Year Digital Filmmaking Program

News from AROUND JUNE

Around June on YouTube

Several small "behind the scenes" clips of "Around June" are now available on YouTube at  http://www.youtube.com/AroundJune

These clips feature the actors Samaire Armstrong, Jon Gries and Brad Henke and writer/director James Savoca and director of photography Peter Hawkins. They were shot and edited by SFSDF graduate Maria Victoria Ponce who will also do a longer documentary for the DVD of "Around June". Check the clips out and vote for them.  Your vote can help them get more exposure on YouTube.

Feel free to also check out the full website at http://www.aroundjune.com  <http://www.aroundjune.com>  with much more: actor bios, many photos from the film and a director's blog by James Savoca

Achim Voermanek
1-Year Digital Filmmaking Program
San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking
Post Production Supervisor "Around June"

SFSDF HOSTS, SF Cutters Co-Hosts: Christopher Phrommayon Teaches Final Cut Pro for SF Cutters: Oct 20 one day only; seating limited

Christopher Phrommayon Teaches Final Cut Pro for SF Cutters:
Oct 20 one day only; seating limited

Online Registration open now
http://sfcutters.eventbrite.com

SF Cutters is sponsoring an Intermediate Level Final Cut Pro Workshop with
Christopher Phrommayon:
Sat. Oct 20, 2007: Hands on: Limited Seating

Hosted by: San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking:
http://www.sfdigifilm.com/
2565 Third Street, Suite 337
San Francisco, CA 94107

Co-Sponsored by VASST : http://www.vasst.com/

Fee for this singular one time workshop is $350, limited seating, hands on,
no repeat date is planned

Early Bird registration until Sept 17 is $300 without code

Use this SFSDF discount code registration is $300 until seats are sold:
SFSDF2

Attendees, will provide their own laptop with Final Cut Pro. To rent
equipment with software we have made special arrangements.
Contact Shelby Stricklin regarding rental for workshop:
415 522 1200 x 111
shelby: shelby@sfdigifilm.com

However you may take the workshop without gear if you prefer to observe,
or wish to make equipment arrangements on your own, you are free to do so.

Event Details:
"Increase Your Speed and Productivity in Final Cut Pro"
Christopher Phrommayon Presents Final Cut Pro Editing based on his

VASST DVD vol. 9: "Advanced Trimming Techniques in Final Cut Pro"

Final Cut Pro Topics Covered:
Input and Organization:
Advanced Preferences & Backup
Setting up your System for Capture
Bin Management

Trimming Tools:
The Power is in the Trim
Trimming on the Fly with the Keyboard

Advanced Trimming Techniques:
Extracting Top and Tail
Using the Replace Edit Command
Editing on the Fly
Using Markers as Sync References

Final Cut Pro Color Correction:
Controlling Exposure Issues
Adjusting Skin Tones
Matching Shots

Working with Final Cut Pro Audio and Transitions:
Editing & Mixing Audio
Adding Dissolves and Transitions

Final Cut Pro Output:
Final Export Using Compressor

Archiving:
Using Final Cut Pro's Media Manager

*Christopher Phrommayon *is a video editor, motion graphics designer, and
Apple, Avid, and Adobe certified instructor, whose clients include PBS, ABC,
ESPN, Comcast, and Fox.
Chris teaches Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro, Motion, Shake, Adobe After
Effects, and Avid Media Composer.

 He has contributed to publications such as "Final Cut Pro on the Spot" and
"Videography" magazine, has written tutorials for Apple and GenArts, DVDs
and podcasts for VASST, and is co-author of "Avid Xpress Pro and DV on the
Spot"

 Speaking engagements include NAB, SIGGRAPH, SF Cutters, Boston Final Cut
Pro User Group, and Boston Avid Users Group.

• A copy of Vol. 9 will be made available to each attendee courtesy of VASST
on the day of the workshop. $59 value "Advanced Trimming Techniques in Final
Cut Pro"

Technical Requirements: All Registrants must Read and Agree:
• For the Apple Final Cut Pro Editor, who is has experience with the Apple
Final Cut Pro software interface, edit tools, and Mac Computer.

•Taught hands on designed for attendees to bring their own laptops with FCP
5.0, 5.1, or 6.0 already loaded. The class will be taught in FCP 6.0, but
lesson features and techniques have been steady since version 5.0.

• This workshop does not include meals, there are many eateries in the area,
or bring your own.

• As a courtesy computer equipment with software is available at an
additional charge for prepaid reservation and rental from SFSDF on site if
the attendee does not own a laptop with FCP.

Contact Shelby Stricklin regarding workstation rental for workshop:
415 522 1200 x 111
shelby: shelby@sfdigifilm.com

Repeat: Attendees must bring their own Apple laptop with Final Cut Pro 5.0.
5.1 or 6.0 software, or make arrangements to rent/lease/or borrow with
permission same, or be willing to take the workshop as an observer with full
understanding of these terms. Enrollees will be asked to confirm their
equipment resources as this will not be a basis for cancellation or
complaint. All enrollees must provide confirmable payment thru PayPal:
http://sfcutters.eventbrite.com

• Please Read and Understand important conditions:
Refund / Workshop Cancellation Declaration
Since this is a small limited size hands-on workshop every attendee is vital
to its success. All enrollment is final, there are no refunds unless we fail
to run the workshop. The attendee is fully responsible for all costs
relative to lost personal time, work time, transport, food, accommodations
or any or all other costs or liabilities should the workshop run or be
cancelled or postponed so please make refundable arrangements, reserve your
time with this understanding, and agree to not hold SF Cutters, Christopher
Phrommayon, SFSDF, VASST or any related sponsors or industries or
individuals responsible for your cash or personal or professional
liabilities or obligations. We have made and will continue to make every
effort to confirm and reserve the date, location, facilities, materials and
staff availability and hold a remarkable workshop.


contact claudia crask
sfcuttster@gmail.com

for other questions.

5 SFSDF DOCUMENTARIES SELECTED TO SCREEN AT BERKELEY FILM FESTIVAL!

Official selections for the 16th Annual Berkeley Video and Film Festival (BVFF) were recently announced, and – incredibly -- five documentaries from San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking (SFSDF) students were among the selections. Stories from summer workshop documentary filmmakers Chet Patterson, Dawn Green, Michael Cho, Marlene Siniki and Ephantus Njenga will be shown at the prestigious and competitive festival, to be screened October 5th, 6th and 7th in the Landmark's California Theatre at 2113 Kittredge St. in downtown Berkeley.

Mel Vapour, Director of BVFF, called this year's entries "extremely competitive," and noted that student films were going up against some of the top film schools in the country, including NYU and UCLA. Vapour called the quality of this year's student productions "extremely high," saying the festival received "great works from many students."

Over 200 entries from around the world were submitted to the competitive festival this year, which got whittled down to just over 60 official selections. Of those, only ten student films were selected to be screened at BVFF, and just five of those are documentaries – the five from SFSDF students.

"I'm amazed," said Chet Patterson, author of LANESPLITTING, a documentary that explores some of the controversy behind motorcycles that split lanes in congested traffic. You can visit his website at http://www.echet.com

"It's a huge honor to be selected, and to have so many entries from my fellow classmates included in this festival is just incredible," Patterson said.

Also featured at this year's BVFF will be Dawn Green's IMPROVED ODDS, about a recently-married couple who find themselves faced with new challenges when husband Matt becomes paralyzed as a result of a Christmas Day 2004 skiing accident, and Michael Cho's PAUL WADE: THIRD STREET GYM, a portrait of Golden Glove winner Paul Wade's quest to once again make San Francisco a boxing powerhouse.

Additionally, the festival will screen Marlene Siniki's WORLD WITHIN WORLDS, about artist Neil Seth Levine, whose art transforms some of nature's tiniest and most beautiful artifacts into larger-than-life visions, and Ehpantus Njenga's SAN FRANCISCO IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER, an exploration of a homeless woman's bitter expreriences in San Francisco's Dogpatch District.

BVFF Director Mel Vapour plans to screen all five selected SFSDF documentaries as a group, and said he hopes to see additional submissions from the school's students in next year's festival.

"I found the quality of this year's student submissions extremely high," said Vapour.

For complete information about the BVFF festival, including the screening schedule when it becomes available, see http://berkeleyvideofilmfest.org/.

For more info, please visit http://www.SFDigiFilm.com

BAY AREA WOMEN IN FILM Monthly Meeting at SFSDF on 9/19

Come join us for a provocative and enlightening evening with Filmmaker Emiko Omori at
BAWIFT's upcoming Monthly Meeting on Wednesday, September 19th (WOMEN ONLY):

REEL SUCCESS STORIES: Featuring Emiko Omori - on the making and distribution of
"Passion & Power, The Technology of Orgasm."

Veteran filmmaker Emiko Omori has been on the frontline of the Bay Area documentary
filmmaking since the late 1960's. Her outstanding work as a producer and
cinematographer has won Sundance and Emmy awards. Her latest film, "Passion & Power,
The Technology of Orgasm," already being self-distributed through Amazon,
will screen at the 30th Mill Valley Film Festival this October (www.mvff.com).  BAWIFT is
also serving as a  Co-Presenting Community Sponsor of "Passion & Power" at this year's
Mill Valley Film Festival.

DATE:   Wednesday, September 19th
LOCATION:  San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking, 2565 Third St., Suite #337,
between 22nd & 23rd Streets, SF

AGENDA:
7 pm - networking and snacks
7:30 to 9 PM – Emiko's presentation/discussion and Selected clips from "Passion & Power:
The Technology of Orgasm" plus Q&A.
9 to 9:30 PM - more networking & Wrap.

Although many of our special events include both men and women, our general monthly
meetings, such as this one, are for women only.

This event is Free for current BAWIFT members, $5 for non-BAWIFT members. $3 for non-
BAWIFT members with student ID.

Soon to be Graduate, Tyler Willis, Talks About his Final Project

“In the last year at SFSDF, I've become well versed in the art of the visual metaphor, and when I hear "school," I think back to big yellow buses taking children to class in the morning. It's a bit ironic that as I leave school, my final project focuses on a bus.

You might call it my last big joke; my tweedy version of spray painting our graduating year on the water tower; my "Seniors ROCK!" exclamation, but it is my hope that "Divergent Roads" will not only begin to define my filmmaking style, but also help propel the success of my peers and the school. It's a lofty dream, it is also an attainable one.

"Divergent Roads" started with a desire to show the bus the way I'd come to see it. I wanted to portray its intimacy. I wanted to capture the very urban experience of having "a bus story" because everyone in this city has one -- an odd, different, or crazy experience that won't soon be forgotten.

I spent three months pre-production writing the story, arranging for the bus, assembling the largest cast I'd worked with and planning all the elements for the only multi-day shoot I've directed. It was an incredible learning process, and while it turned out better than I'd hoped, it did hammer home one very important lesson.

I enjoy the quote that tells us, "you start out wanting to make the greatest movie ever made, and you end up just wanting to live through it." I can't remember who said it, but it's humor stayed with me. I now understand it's truth. I would have never gotten it had I not took on a self-funded project of this scope. I've always loved my projects, but I've never felt that one might bankrupt, harm, or destroy me if I didn't give it my all. This project did. The quote means that movies are entities -- almost living, breathing beings – and just as no child succeeds without love and encouragement, and each movie you make requires your full attention and priority.

With production behind me, and post-production wrapping up, I'm beginning to form a plan for action. This film will be my first foray into the festival world where I will try to beg, borrow, or steal enough resources to springboard my next project. I think it has a good chance at winning some awards, but I'm also well aware that no father can see if his child is ugly.

Should the project ultimately only be a learning experience for me, I would like to share the things I learned with those who might benefit from it. Therefore, I'll be writing a series of articles which I will post on the movie's website ( www.divergentroads.com ) and will give reproduction rights to the school's blog should they want to include them here. The first post will be about lighting an enclosed space (relatively) inexpensively without access to a power supply, and will be up at the website in the next few days with lighting diagrams, equipment recommendations, stories and more."

Tyler Willis
1-Yr Digital Filmmaking Program
Fall 2006 – Fall 2007

More Places to Post Your Films!

http://Blip.tv
http://www.veoh.com/
http://www.blinkx.com/
http://funnyordie.com
http://www.gofish.com/
http://www.dailymotion.com/us
http://videohybrid.com/
http://www.revver.com
http://www.grapeflix.com
http://www.atomfilms.com
http://www.ifilm.com

GET YOUR FILMS OUT THERE!!! Here's a list to help...

Hi SFSDF Students & Alumni!

As you all know it’s hard to get your name out there into the industry.  Here are some sites that should help you POST YOUR FILMS, join filmmaking communities, and win prizes!

If you post your films to Youtube, don’t forget that you can link or share them with http://www.youtube.com/SFDigiFilm

I hope you find it helpful!

 http://www.vuze.com/az-web/Publish.html  
 http://www.caachi.com/caachi  
 http://www.youtube.com/  
 http://medialab.ifc.com/  
 http://www.current.tv/  
 http://myspace.com/  
 http://videocodezone.com/  
 http://www.bolt.com/  
 http://uncutvideo.aol.com  
 http://www.dvxuser.com  
 http://www.ifilm.com/video/2641652  
 http://www.webfives.com  
 http://alternet.org/  
 http://video.aol.com/  
 http://www.facebook.com/  
 http://www.flickr.com  
 http://www.imdb.com  
 http://www.imeem.com  
 http://movies.yahoo.com  
 http://myspace.com  
 http://www.netflix.com  
 http://pikeo.com  
 http://reelviews.net/  
 http://www.rottentomatoes.com  
 http://www.slashdot.com  
 http://www.somethingawful.com  
 http://www.youtube.com  

Thank you!
  
--
Shelby Stricklin
Marketing
Tel 415.522.1200 ext.111
<http://www.SFDigiFilm.com>
<http://www.youtube.com/SFDigiFilm>
<http://myspace.com/sfdigifilm>
<http://sfdigifilm.blogspot.com>

I DEW

DEW you?

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF PRODUCTION.

"Call time is 10 am and I still have to pick up the lead actress I met via a craigslist ad. It is now a quarter past 10 and I still have now clue where I am driving to as my phone continues to ring. I try not to answer it as I try and make sense why there are two different Mission street exits. I crumble my mapquest directions and throw it in the back seat. My phone rings again, it is a crew member asking me where I am and verifying that they are on time despite the director not knowing where he is going. My phone rings again. The lead wants to know where I am and I tell her I will be there in seven to ten minutes (the typical answer I give to anyone when I am running late). As I am explaining my tardiness to an actress that I have talked to once in the back of my head I am thinking that in the back of her head she does not trust me and probably questioning the validity of our prior conversation. I bring a female crew member to avoid scarring off the actress from the feel of a shady adult filmmaker. I stop by two gas stations and against my internal instinct ask for directions and of course neither of them know where I am going. That’s makes 3 of us. A strange coincidence occurs when they both try to get me to buy maps. At this point I want to punch them in the neck for lying in order to sell a 3 dollar map, but I am trying to make a commercial so I will save this for tomorrow. I jump back in my car to see 3 missed calls. So I drive following my instincts which have done nothing for me. Welcome to 10:40 am. This is when God realizes he is done laughing at me and I see a road sign that shows me where to go. I quickly call the actress saying, “I am here.” I still have another 2 minutes until I am there so I kept her on the line. Finally I see her and introduce myself. I quickly call my crew members that are waiting at a coffee shop and I tell them I will be there in 7 to 10 minutes. At this point my brain is thrown off track and I am trying to figure out how to make up this time when I only have one day to shoot and need the daylight. So I tell myself it is just 30 seconds that I need despite knowing that telling a story in 30 seconds can be more difficult than telling a story in 5 minutes. I arrive at the coffee shop 15 minutes later. I am try rushing everyone as they all make smart ass remarks saying I am late not them. I know this. I rush everyone into the parking lot where I do a quick wardrobe check. We then all begin our 5 car motorcade to the beach. We arrive to the beach and begin setting up in what should have been a clear day by now, but the fog has yet to burn off. We start shooting and things finally begin to run smoothly. Once I get the take I needed for the first shot, a huge weight lifts off my shoulders. I am able to have fun with the shoot now. It turned out to be my favorite production day of all my projects."

Dave Keenan
Digital Filmmaking Program Graduate
Writer/Director of "I DEW" Commercial

Welcome to our blog!

Hello SFDigiFilmster Students, Staff, Alumni!

Welcome to our blog!

We welcome you to think of this blog as your own. We'd like to use this blog as a way to keep up with ALL of the student productions, feature films, and alumni gigs and jobs.

Should you wish to add stories, events or pictures to this blog, please email shelby@sfdigifilm.com and request to be a moderator.

Thanks for checking out our blog...and be sure to check in again!

Shelby Stricklin
Marketing
www.sfdigifilm.com