Spurlock Sisters at Biennale College Cinema: Week Two

For the Spurlock Sisters’ first blog entry, visit: http://filmmakermagazine.com/64191-spurlock-sisters-at-biennale-college-cinema-part-one/

They say that creative works are never really finished, we just let them go at some point.  I guess that’s what deadlines are for.  The new versions of step outline, budget and schedule for A Case of the Dismals were due a …

Spurlock Sisters at Biennale College Cinema: Week One

So I was thinking Don’t Look Now, but my sis had Scooby Doo on her mind as we drifted through the eerie fog on Venice’s Grand Canal. We were headed towards San Zaccaria, where we would catch a boat for the last leg of our journey to San Servolo island.

Mai …

In Praise of Doubt

It turned out to be incredibly prophetic that my first day in Venice, Italy as one of the leaders for the Biennale College-Cinema was spent at collector François Pinault‘s incredible Punta della Dogana. This beautiful museum opened in 2009, with its closest neighbor – the Santa Maria della Salute Church- …

IFP Sends First Partner Project to DIFF

As the first IFP representative partner project to the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), SCARLET POPPY – a cross cultural love story set in Afghanistan between an American and a conservative Pashtun woman who is also being pursued by a local Talib – was in the company of other partner …

Video Stores: A Conversation

Video Rodeo, Gainesville, FL’s independent video store

There’s a lot of discussion in the independent film world right now about how filmmakers can earn a living in today’s economic climate, as well as how distributors and art house theaters can continue being profitable in the increasingly-digital landscape.

But, there’s a rarely …

A Call to Producers: Innovate or Die

Summit of independent creative producers hosted by MoMA, Indiewire, and Zipline Entertainment in December 2009.

I’m very fortunate to be friends with many accomplished independent film producers–people whose films have screened at the best festivals, won significant awards, gotten picked up by major distributors, earned healthy gross receipts, and …