Winter 2010 CAmm Screenings, Workshops, Networking Events, & Calls for Entries

Creative Alliance at The Patterson 3134 Eastern Ave, 21224
Info and tix/registration: 410-276-1651 www.creativealliance.org

Screenings & Talks

Fri Jan 8 CAmm Indie Premiere: Welcome Home "The Jay Randall Story"
New feature by DIY filmmaker Jimmy Traynor
Jay Randall is looking for fame and fortune but finds deception and failure. He hits rock bottom and decides to come out swinging, this time is with deadly objects! Film Threat Magazine calls Jimmy Traynor “The Greatest Filmmaker You've Never Heard Of.” One of Baltimore’s most prolific underground filmmakers, Jimmy’s made over 100 shorts and even made a feature in 32 hours! Doing a whole lot with very little, he is the epitome of Baltimore diy style. Tonight we premiere his newest feature, coming in at 80 minutes, made for less than a grand! Q & A follows. 7:30pm. $7, $5 mbrs, stus, cast, crew.

Thu Jan 14
Rahne Alexander Screening and Artist Talk
In conjunction w/ CAmm AV Cart (parked outside the CAmm Media Lab) on view Jan 9-Feb 25
Rahne Alexander summons Hollywood's subconscious obsessions to the surface using found footage: cinema’s most-used line, a catalog of yawns, a history film protagonists’ reactions to gender-variant bodies, human despair in the face of natural disaster. Alexander's film collages have been screened in galleries and festivals across the country, including Freewaves (LA), MIX (NYC), Threat Level (Chicago), Homoscope (Austin) and Trannyfest (SF). She co-founded the garage rock band The Degenerettes and is also an organizer with Baltimore's Transmodern art festival, the Charm City Kitty Club and the Maryland Film Festival. Tonight she screens and discusses selected works. $5. 8pm. @ CAmm Media Lab

Sat Jan 23
Silent Sounds: Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
w/ live score: Darsombra (Brian Daniloski) vs. Ala Muerte (Bianca Bibiloni)
Darsombra vs. Ala Muerte is one part a sinister accompaniment and two parts sonic death duel! Mixing hypnotic, mutilated guitar loops with layers of vocals, ranging from ethereal to guttural, Daniloski and Bibiloni channel every depraved nuance and tension of Robert Wiene’s influential German expressionist film. 7pm. $10, $8 mbrs, stus.

Fri Feb 5
CAmm Indie Premiere 60 Writers/60 Places
w/ I Will Smash You
Documentaries by Michael Kimball & Luca Dipierro
Baltimore novelist and postcard biographer Michael Kimball goes cinematic with Luca Dipierro to create two innovative documentaries. In I Will Smash You, twenty people tell a personal story about an object and then destroy It. The result is often funny and sometimes uncomfortable. 60 Writers/60 Places (premiering tonight) meets 60 writers reading their work in 60 places—Blake Butler on a subway, Deb Olin Unferth in a laundromat, Jamie Gaughran-Perez in a salon, Tita Chico in a dressing room, Will Eno in a park, Tao Lin next to a hot dog cart, Rick Moody on a baseball field, and Rupert Wondolowski at a diner. 7pm. $8, $6 mbrs, stus. Adv tix sug.

Fri Feb 19
¡VIVA BRASIL! Favela Rhythms & City of Rhyme
Directors: Mari Gardner, Kurt Shaw
Favela Rhythms is a documentary where favela (slum) youth examine their walled cities of violence, drugs, dreams. Three years later, the very same youth make City of Rhyme, trying to realize their dreams of recording a hip hop album. Discussion follows w/ Gardner, Shaw, and Brazilian youth via webcam. Favela Rhythms, 2005, 30 min. City of Rhyme, 2008, 30 min. 6pm Mama Geni’s Brazilian dinner sold sep, 7pm screening. $8, $6 mbrs, stus, capoeiristas.


Film-Video-Digital Workshops

2nd & 4th Mondays Jan 11, 25, Feb 8, 22
CAmm Cage Orientation
A required FREE workshop for anyone renting equipment from the CAmm Cage. Meet the staff, preview our gear, and get the low down on how to rent. Email cage@creativealliance.org 7-8pm. Free!

Sat Jan 23
Shoot Like a Pro
Network cameraman Tim Keating shares survival secrets for the better, faster, cheaper, one-man-band business environment: lighting, interviews, formats, composition, best practices. Make your next shoot run smoothly. Designed to make you a better camera person from beginners to intermediate! 10am-4pm (w/ lunch break). Adv reg $105, $90 mbrs. Walk-in $140, $125 mbrs.

5 Wed & 1 Sat Jan 27, Feb 3, 10, 17, 27, Mar 3
Film Directing 101
Jump into the director’s chair, no experience req’d! If you’ve always wanted to take a crack at film direction, here’s your chance. Award-winning director Alden Brigham takes you from script selection to getting the best crew to directing actors to the editing process with lecture, handouts, and “on-set” hands on projects. All students will finish class with a completed scene “in the can.” 6:30-9:30pm (Sat Feb 27 10am-4pm). Adv reg $200, $175 mbrs. Walk-in $225, $200 mbrs.

3 Tuesdays Feb 2, 9, 16
Final Cut Pro 101
Get started with Final Cut Pro! Learn the interface, setting up your system, capturing video from tape and P2 cards, importing images and audio into your project, and all the amazing editing tools at your disposal. Instr. Nick Prevas. 7-9pm. Adv reg $125, $100 mbrs. Walk-in $150, $125 mbrs.

Sat Feb 6
Special Effects Makeup for TV & Film
Learn how to do cuts, bruises, burns, blisters and blood efx from pros! Steve Bauer and Marianne Wittelsberger, aka the Jokesters®, produced an award-winning cable show in Hollywood for 12 years while working for Paramount, Fox, MGM, Universal and Disney. Cheap, effective and realistic techniques for your next horror film or disaster simulation. 10am-noon. Adv reg $45, $40 mbrs. Walk-in $55, $50 mbrs. Includes materials fee. Note: snow date Sat Feb 13.


Wed Feb 24
Social Media 101
Whether you want to promote your own work, brainstorm with fellow artists, find potential clients or maintain an online portfolio that’s easy for others to find, share and discuss, the Internet has an answer. Unfortunately, figuring out what to do, when, why and how can be daunting. But fear not! Justin Kownacki has been explaining the basics of social media to artists and CEOs alike since 2006, and his 10 Step Social Media Crash Course will get you up to speed (and get your work in front of a new audience) in 2 quick, painless, sarcasm-filled hours. 7-9pm. Adv reg $20, $15 mbrs. Walk-in $30, $25 mbrs.


Networking Events

1st Mondays
Jan 4, Feb 1 CAmm Cine Lounge
CAmm Cine Lounge is the hottest indie event in town! Bring your new film or work in progress (max length 15min) and have a critical conversation with peers. Film industry guests share tips of the trade. Drop your business cards, headshots, and press packets on our info exchange tables! Bar is open with specials! Note: Feb 1 Special Meet & Greet with local orgs, production co’s, more. Email cammcinelounge@gmail.com for info & table reg. 7pm. $8, $6 mbrs.

3rd Mondays Jan 18, Feb 15 CAmm Cage Happy Hour Talks
Meet CAmm Cage & Media Lab staff. Get tips on different topics each month. Network. Free Natty Boh, pizza, discount coupon for next rental! 6-7pm. FREE!

4th Tuesdays Jan 26, Feb 23
Baltimore Screenwriter’s Meet Up
An informal meeting for professional and aspiring screenwriters! Coffee, networking, moral support, feedback on works in progress, peer advice and inspiration included! Good times, that make you want to WRITE. 7-9pm. $5.


Calls For Entries/Important Deadlines

Tue Feb 9 Deadline for Submissions: CAmm Workshops & Screenings
Have a short video or feature you’d like to screen at The Patterson? An idea for a film/video/digital workshop, or one for artists? Proposals considered for our May-Aug season due today. Info: creativealliance.org, click “booking and submissions” or call 410-276-1651.

Fri Feb 12 Deadline for Submissions: CAmm College Video Bake-Off
Students! Submit your latest short (max 10 minutes) on DVD or Quicktime (.mov). Accepted films screen at The Patterson Fri Apr 9. All genres, all schools, all departments, all students encouraged! Audience and jury prizes! FREE to submit! Info: kristen@creativealliance.org. FREE!


CAmm Cage Holiday Hours
CAmm Cage will be closed Wed Dec 23- Mon Dec 28 & Fri Jan 1.
We will be open Wed Dec 30!

Holiday Special!
Document your family traditions! Cast the whole family and make a movie!
Rent gear Mon Dec 21- Wed Dec 30, or Wed Dec 30- Mon Jan 4 for the price of one weekend!

Starting Mon Jan 4 the CAmm Cage & Media Lab will be open Mondays & Fridays 3pm-7pm weekly. Rental periods are Mon-Fri or Fri-Mon. New Year special – through Jan 25, 2010 – rent gear Mon-Friday for the old Mon-Wed price – double the time, same low price!
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Give the Gift o' Fun!

Patterson Night Out For Two!
Give your fave couple a cuddly date! Tixs f/ two to any regularly scheduled CA show (their choice!), two drinks & two popcorns! $40 ( Potentially a $60 value!) Arrives in holiday card w/ snazzy gift certificate.

Membership + CA Tee!
Let you arts curious be part of it all! Discounts on admission & classes, spiffy print calendar mailings, Members Happy Hours & more! $35 Individual. $65 Duo. Add $5 for a CA T-Shirt!
Must be purchased by Fri to receive by Dec 25. Contact greg@creativealliance.org
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CAmm Cage & Media Lab
Gear for your creative and documentation needs!
Workshops, tutoring, gear and editing rentals!
MWF 3pm-7pm
Email Jaimes! cage@creativealliance.org

Follow us online!

CAmm Cage Blog (news, local films, tutorials, handy links!) cammcage.blogspot.com
Twitter twitter.com/cammcage
YouTube youtube.com/cammcage
Do It Yourself Media Field Guide! www.creativealliance.org/camm/distro_guide.pdf


Become a member!

Give the Gift o' Fun!

Patterson Night Out For Two!
Give your fave couple a cuddly date! Tixs f/ two to any regularly scheduled CA show (their choice!), two drinks & two popcorns! $40 ( Potentially a $60 value!) Arrives in holiday card w/ snazzy gift certificate.

Membership + CA Tee!
Let you arts curious be part of it all! Discounts on admission & classes, spiffy print calendar mailings, Members Happy Hours & more! $35 Individual. $65 Duo. Add $5 for a CA T-Shirt!

Must be purchased by Fri to receive by Dec 25. Contact greg@creativealliance.org

CAmm Cage & Media Lab Holiday Hours and Rental Deals!

CAmm Cage will be closed Wed Dec 23- Mon Dec 28 & Fri Jan 1. We will be open Wed Dec 30!

Holiday Special! Document your family traditions! Cast the whole family and make a movie! Rent gear Mon Dec 21- Wed Dec 30, or Wed Dec 30- Mon Jan 4 for the price of one weekend!

Starting Mon Jan 4 the CAmm Cage & Media Lab will be open Mondays & Fridays 3pm-7pm weekly. Rental periods are Mon-Fri or Fri-Mon. New Year special – through Jan 25, 2010 – rent gear Mon-Friday for the old Mon-Wed price – double the time, same low price!

Holiday Dorkbot TONIGHT @ The Dizz!

Hey dorks (and dork fans) - Tonight's Dorkbot meeting is really a holiday party and it is really at The Dizz 300 W. 30th St 7-9pm. (Not at Creative Alliance this month.) Happy Holidays!!

Drinks, conversation, talk about geeky things, and hopefully a pleasant evening with old and new friends before the holidays kickoff.

http://bmoredorkbot.org/

The Dizz

CAmm Cage Happy Hour ---> TONIGHT <---

FREE PIZZA! FREE BEER! FREE Bolex DEMO! Plus schmoozing and poking around the CAmm Cage! Tonight, 6-7pm, Creative Alliance at The Patterson 3134 Eastern Ave! FREE!

mob tv xmas bash in effect. come on down. guts are bustin.

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Mink Stole on Music & Christmas!

	Mink Stole's Christmas: Unwrapped & Unplugged Sat Dec 12, 8pm show 7pm Members Happy Hour. $15, $13 mbrs. Actress and story teller extrordinaire Mink sings cabaret with her fab band—Skizz Cyzyk, Walker Teret, Scott Wallace Brown. Tall but true tales of a big family childhood, adventures with John Waters and... surprise guests!

CAmm screening at Gv Expo

2009 CAmm Slamm winner Cup by Grasshopper Robinson

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CAmm @ GV Expo

CAmm on Digital Production BuZZ TODAY! Tune in!

CAmm Director Kristen Anchor talks CAmm today at 1:15pm on Larry Jordan's Digital Production BuZZ, podcasting live from GV Expo in DC. Check it out here:

http://tinyurl.com/yjmlm52

Government Video Expo is produced by the editors of Government Video magazine and the Creative Planet Community websites. The three-day conference program includes tracks that cover the capture, storage, creation, and distribution of mission-critical video content.

The Digital Production BuZZ will be covering GV Expo with LIVE shows direct from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center - PLUS a special report this week on the Digital Production BuZZ!

Also, if you're at the expo, come by and say hi -- we're at booth 246 with Maryland Film Office in the DC Film Alliance's DC Community Corner!

Riot Acts review in City Paper this week!

Check out Bret McCabe's review!

http://www.citypaper.com/calendar/event.asp?whatID=132584

By Bret McCabe | Posted 12/2/2009

Riot Acts is one of those few documentaries that succeeds because of what it chooses not to tell you. This solid 2009 flick comes right out and identifies its focus in the subtitle, Flaunting Gender Deviance in Music Performance. Yes, Riot focuses entirely upon independent musicians and bands featuring transgendered and gender-variant performers, some of whom are in the process of transitioning. All the bands interviewed here--which run from the gorgeous folk of Coyote Grace to the ribald comedic trio Systyr Act, from the politically punk-y the Shondes to Baltimore's own garage-rock power trio the Degenerettes (which includes occasional City Paper contributor Rahne Alexander)--are very candid about their lives as musicians and human beings, and sometimes touch on the difficult of realizing and living in a body that doesn't feel right.

But what director Madsen Minax doesn't do is label the performers. Riot Acts spotlights and identifies the names of a wealth of artists--from the ridiculously talented Novice Theory to San Francisco's storytelling hip-hop MC Katastrophe and the positively anarchic Trannysaurus Sex--but the movie never tries to shoehorn them into biology-is-destiny square pegs of mainstream mediaspeak. Conventional language and its labels can be a prison house of normalcy--see: modifiers such as "male-to-female" and "female-to-male"--and Minax lets his subjects tell you about their lives in their own words. En route, you find out who they are instead of having them nice and safely categorized according to the more socially acceptable gender identities.

And what stories they have to tell. Riot Acts is as much about life on the road as it is about being a transgendered artist and the issues that introduces, touching on everything from voice changes that happen after taking hormones to the sometimes social awkwardness of playing a long-time favorite dyke bar when you're, well, no longer identifying as a lesbian woman. What emerges is not only a better understanding of transgendered artists, but a wonderful peek into the variety of music kicking around the queer underground.

NEW VIDEO: Mink Stole talks Christmas!

Riot Acts !! BALTIMORE PREMIERE !! Fri Dec 4!

Fri Dec 4
Baltimore Premiere!
Riot Acts: Flaunting Gender Deviance in Music

Gender queer rockumentary road movie w/ The Degenerettes, Katastrophe, The Cliks, + more
plus reception live performances by Jessica Xavier & The Degenerettes
Reception + Music + Soup Dinner 7pm, Film 8pm
$10, $8 mbrs & stus. Soup dinner sold sep

In 2006, Simon Strikeback and Madsen Minax (of the Chicago bluegrass band Actor Slash Model) packed their instruments and cameras and struck out on the road. For 3 years, they travelled the U.S shooting 15 bands (including The Degenerettes, CAmm Dir Kristen Anchor’s band) and dozens of individuals performing, living, and discussing songwriting, venues, media representation, passing privilege, and the politics of gender identity. In a media climate where most images of transpeople are at best as victims and at worst as “freaks,” Riot Acts is radical departure -- no victims; just real people living interesting lives and making music. (The film also features appearances by CA staffers Megan Hamilton, Brittney Huff, and Dawn Swartz!) Reception with filmmakers, live performance by The Degenerettes, Jessica Xavier, and soup dinner precedes the screening and Q & A with the filmmakers follows.

Creative Alliance at The Patterson
3134 Eastern Ave. B’more MD
410-276-1651 www.creativealliance.org

Click here for tickets!

CAmm Thanksgiving Weekend Special!

The Camm Cage and Media Lab will be closed this Friday November 27th-- so that means you can keep your equipment longer! Rentals that go out this Wednesday, November 25th do not have to be returned until Monday November 30th-- and you'll only be charged for a weekend rental! That's two days free!

Machinima 101 Saturday December 5th!

What's Machinima you might ask? Machinima is the emerging artform of movies created with video game engines. Learn the history of the genre, watch examples, then create your own with the cross-platform freeware Moviestorm! Finish by uploading to your audience on the web! Award-winning filmmaker Matthew Hahn instructs.

Go to the Creative Alliance website for more info.

Watch some of Matthew's movies here!

WIFV-DC Networking and Infoshare Event!

This looks great, so we thought we'd pass along the info!

Join WIFV for a special evening continuing our 30th Anniversary Celebration when 2009 Woman of Vision Award recipient Sheila Smith from S & S Productions presents "Moving Pictures- Steadicams, Dollies and Jibs". This workshop will highlight one of Smith’s professional passions - the art of moving pictures.

Sheila has teamed up with several local camera shops and operators to demonstrate the following gear: MK-V Lite, Steadicam Clipper, Steadicam Flyer, Doorway dolly, Hollywood dolly, Cam Tram 2000, Cine Kinetics, Seven Jib, etc.

After the demonstrations, Sheila and her colleagues will open up the floor to questions and will give the audience a change to have their own hands on experience with the gear. A Petting Zoo that actually moves!

Nov 30
$15 WIFV Members/$25 public
This is a WIFV 30th Anniversary Event!
6:30 pm - Networking Reception
7:00 to 9:00 pm - Demonstrations and Petting Zoo
RSVP to membership@wifv.org

Arlington Independent Media
2701 N Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA 22201
METRO:Orange Line Clarendon or Courthouse stop
For more information about Arlington Independent Media and the resources it makes available to the area's film and video producers, go to www.arlingtonmedia.org.

Great Halloween Lantern Parade TODAY!

CAmm Sale Coming up on Monday! 6-7pm in the Media Lab

For this month's CAmm Happy Hour, we will be selling off some of our gear! Come down, have some free pizza and Natty Boh and check out our gear!
Some highlights:
Bolex 16mm H16 Reflex Cameras (no lenses included)
Kodak Ektagraphic Slide Projectors
Dual 8 Projector
Super 8 Cameras
Super 8 Film veiwers
Still (film) cameras
Plastic mailers for film
...and more!

If you have questions about any specific item, call Jaimes at 410-276-1651 ext. 213

CAmm Slamm 2009!

CAmm Slamm 2009!

Oct 9-11
In its 8th year CAmm Slamm is celebrated by local filmmakers and audiences alike as the most Baltimore of Baltimore film contests! Sponsored by Maryland Film Office.

Fri Oct 9
CAmm Slamm Kickoff
Join the who’s who of the Baltimore indie film scene! Register early for CAmm’s weekend video competition. Tonight, pick up your prop then roll tape! Finish by Sun night for the competition in our theater! One member of your team must be a CAmm member (join tonight!). Info: Kristen@creativealliance.org. 6pm Reg, 7pm Start! Early reg (by Oct 9) $50/group, walk-in reg $75/group. Adv reg strongly sug.

Sun Oct 11
CAmm Slamm Screening
All entries (8 min or less, created this weekend) are screened at The Patterson! The voting audience plus a celeb jury award special prizes. CAmm Slamm 2008 Jurors: Matt Porterfield, Dir. Hamilton; Violet Glaze, journalist; and The Robinson Brothers, Dir.China White. Drink specials and door prizes! Doors 7:30pm, Screening 8pm. $12, $10 mbrs, stus, cast and crew.

All events take place at the
Creative Alliance at The Patterson 3134 Eastern Ave, 21224
Info and tix/registration: 410-276-1651 www.creativealliance.org



CAmm Cage & Media Lab
Gear for your creative and documentation needs!
Workshops, tutoring, gear and editing rentals!
MWF 3pm-7pm
Email Jaimes! cage@creativealliance.org

Follow us online!

CAmm Cage Blog (news, local films, tutorials, handy links!) cammcage.blogspot.com
Twitter twitter.com/cammcage
YouTube youtube.com/cammcage
Do It Yourself Media Field Guide! www.creativealliance.org/camm/distro_guide.pdf

Oct = Final Cut, Shoot Like a Pro, After Effects Workshops + CineLounge Meet & Greet + Calls for Entry

All Creative Alliance events take place at the Creative Alliance 3134 Eastern Ave, 21224
Info and tix/registration: 410-276-1651 www.creativealliance.org

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Upcoming Film-Video-Digital Workshops
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3 Thursdays: Oct 1, 8, 15
Final Cut Pro 101
Get started with Final Cut Pro! Learn system set-up, video and audio capture techniques, editing strategies, basic titling, transitions and output. Instr Instr Nick Prevas. 7-9pm. Adv reg $125, $100 mbrs. Walk-in $170, $145 mbrs.

Sat Oct 3
Shoot Like a Pro
Network cameraman Tim Keating shares survival secrets for the better, faster, cheaper, one-man-band business environment: lighting, interviews, formats, composition, best practices. Make your next shoot run smoothly. Designed to make you a better camera person from beginner to intermediate! 10am-4pm (w/ lunch break). Adv reg $105, $90 mbrs. Walk-in $140, $125 mbrs.


3 Wednesdays: Oct 14, 21, 28
Intro to After Effects
Adobe After Effects is the software of choice for pro quality motion graphics and special effects for video. Get to know the interface, tools, and applications. Craig Herron’s award winning shorts have screened at Maryland and other fests. 7-9pm Adv reg $125, $100 mbrs. Walk-in $170, $145 mbrs.

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Upcoming Networking Events
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1st Mondays: Oct 5
CAmm Cine Lounge
7pm. $8, $6 mbrs.
2nd Semi-Annual MEET & GREET

Mix and mingle with local filmmakers, actors, production companies, studios and more!

Attendance will include: Studio Unknown, The World Music & Independent Film Festival, Maryland Film Office, Be More Films, The Delaware Film Company... and more!

Meet & Greet starts at 7:00pm...
BRING PLENTY OF HEADSHOTS, BUSINESS CARDS, RESUMES AND REELS!!!

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We will also be screening the Top 3 Winners from
THE 29 DAY FILM FESTIVAL Plus! Bring your short film for critique that night! Bar will be open with specials all night long. See you there! (If you have a production company or organization and would like to have a table, contact Stacie Gentzler cammcinelounge@gmail.com)

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Mon Oct 12
CAmm Cage Happy Hour Talks
Free Natty Boh, pizza, and a demo! Plus discount coupon for your next rental! Visit the CAmm Cage & Media Lab, have a beer, munch on pizza, meet some folks, and learn something new! Sep 14: Visiting filmmakers Ben Balcom and Josh Weissbach, Oct 12: Cage sale – buy our old gear! Nov 12: HD & YouTube, Dec 14: Bolex Demo. 6-7pm. Free!


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Upcoming Deadlines
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Tue Oct 6
Call for Entries: Jan-Apr ‘09 Screenings, Workshops
Got an idea for a CAmm workshop, or one for artists? A new short, feature, or concept for an evening program? Ideas considered for our Jan-Apr ‘09 season. Visit creativealliance.org & click “Booking and Submissions” or 410-276-1651.

Fri Oct 16
2010 CAmm Fellowship Proposal Deadline
CAmm offers FREE access to our gear and facilities to one local artist or filmmaker each year! Access our editing suite, iMac lab, production gear, one free workshop, plus a screening in our theater. Fellows accepted on the basis of a specific project. Info & application guidelines: http://www.creativealliance.org/events/eventItem1935.html

Creative Alliance at The Patterson
3134 Eastern Ave 21224 | www.creativealliance.org |410-276-1651 |

2010 Maryland Film Festival Call for Entries!

Get the low down here: http://www.md-filmfest.com/sub.cfm?ID=11

Take 5 w/ Filmmaker Adam Nemett (The Instrument)

Adam Nemett is a filmmaker and fiction writer with a BA (Religion and Creative Writing) from Princeton University, and an MFA in Writing (Fiction & Screenwriting) from California College of the Arts. Adam is an Adjunct Professor of Film Studies at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and works as a Senior Idea Engineer at The History Factory, adapting filmic story structure for organizational storytelling. He is also finishing his first novel, Minor Gods, an excerpt of which was published in The Apocalypse Reader (Thunder's Mouth Press). Check out The Instrument, Friday, Sep 25 at The Patterson! Click here for screening info and tickets!


1. What’s the last movie you loved and what was the last movie you hated?
Loved: Synecdoche, New York (2008), Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut. I'm not sure if "loved" is the right word here; but if you consider "existentially confused in a way that made me want to drink myself into a catatonic stupor and/or call my grandma" a positive outcome, then, yes, I loved this one.

The film features a bunch of my favorite actors (Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Emily Watson, Samantha Morton, etc.). Hoffman plays a struggling theater director who receives a MacArthur Grant and launches a multi-decade semi-autobiographical theater project involving a life-sized replica of New York City (yes, life-sized). It's basically a time-warped poem about all the very big things in life -- illness, death, art, love. But in typical Kaufman-esque fashion it somehow accesses this weightiness without feeling preachy or "arty." There's dark humor and surrealism throughout, plus hefty doses of passion and pain. The relationship drama for the main character (so many women, so little idea how to handle them all) and self-referential handling of the artistic process reminds me of Fellini's 8 1/2, and there's probably a ton of other intellectual and psycho-spiritual references that went over my head. The film is such a grand achievement, likely lost on most mainstream viewers, that it almost feels beyond its medium. I'm not sure what I mean by that, exactly. But I like a film that challenges me, that stays with me, forces me to return to it. Recent Viewing Honorable Mentions: Chicago 10, Waco: The Rules of Engagement, Lars and the Real Girl...

Hated: Vicky Christina Barcelona (2008). It takes a lot for me to hate a movie, but this one did it for me. Penelope Cruz feels like she's playing Penelope Cruz. ScaJo is nice to look at, but she hasn't been good in anything since Ghost World. And it's a shame because the potential "main character" -- the city of Barcelona -- is such an amazing place in the world and even that somehow got lost in this nonsense...It kind of felt like a 17-year-old girl made this, after spending a semester in Barcelona (and even though, like, some crazy sexual stuff happened she TOTALLY had soooooo much fun there!). If this was written by a student in my screenwriting workshop I'd have written things like "Too obvious!" and "Meh..." all over the script. But instead, it was Woody Allen. Who I usually love. Either he's not trying anymore or else he's trying way too hard.

2. What’s your guilty pleasure movie or TV show?
I never really feel guilty about watching movies or TV shows, even goofy stuff. I'm self-righteous enough to believe that everything I watch is kind of awesome. There's plenty of drivel in either medium, but I'm one of those people who thinks there's a lot of fantastic stories being shown on television these days, and I think in ten years it's going to finally be socially- and artistically-acceptable to talk about TV as a serious artistic medium. I'm not a trash-TV fan -- not into The Real Housewives of Wherever -- but I like a good reality-show every now and then. Especially when it's a fictional series, but the verite style is part and parcel of the storytelling, like Reno 911! or The Office. I also DVR reruns of The Cosby Show, which some people think is silly, but Cliff Huxtable is the best TV dad in history, so I think those people who laugh at me are silly. Also, my friend met the guy who plays Elvin in an airport and ended up going to his Oscar Night Party which turned out to be a recruiting gathering for some Christian cult, and she won the Oscar pool but they wouldn't pay her unless she took the vow to join them...which is a fantastic tidbit of information to know about Elvin from The Cosby Show.

Maybe the closest thing to my guilty pleasures are Adult Swim cartoons: SeaLab 2021, Frisky Dingo, Aqua Teen Hunger Force...But they're just so funny.

3. How’d you get into filmmaking?
By accident. I've always loved movies, but I'm a fiction writer first and foremost. I was doing a lot of work with music in college -- I'm not a musician myself...I just do a lot of "work" surrounding music to overcompensate for the fact that I'm not a musician myself -- living with musicians and promoting concerts and raves and writing lyrics and such. I was also writing a lot of fiction at the time (still am) and began writing a long-ish story about a group of college students who inherit an interactive musical workshop that was created by their mentor before he died (the character is loosely based on James Hampton and his amazing work of visionary art, The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations' Millennium General Assembly). My story relied so heavily on music and elaborate ritual, and I kept wanting to hear and see the story instead of just reading it. I believe you can do a lot with words, but I also believe the line, "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture" (this quote is attributed to everyone from Steve Martin to Elvis Costello to Gertrude Stein to Frank Zappa...who actually said this?)

So I'm writing this piece in a fiction workshop taught by Joyce Carol Oates, and I'm young and foolish and desperately trying to impress her. So when she (jokingly?) suggested that I should make the piece into a movie, I kind of went with it. I'd never made a film before, not even a short, but I bought some books and developed the prose into a feature script, and I was surrounded by so many talented kids at Princeton, and had access to some of the school's equipment, and found a guy who owned a 3-chip DV camera, and knew lots of musicians who wanted to create the original score, and I was watching a lot of Dogme 95 low-budget movies in those days, and...all of a sudden the thing snowballed and I was actually making a movie.

A giant part of what made the project possible was the Maryland Institute College of Art. My father, Barry Nemett, has taught at MICA for several decades and he's always been a giant inspiration to me -- through his own work as an artist/teacher and his undying support for my own creative work -- and we began talking about collaborating on this film project, using MICA as a backdrop for the story and utilizing some of the undergraduate students and faculty to create the insanely complex sets for the film. His support, and the support of MICA, made the film a reality.

This was obviously a key element of producing the film on such a minuscule budget: overcoming my anxiety about asking people close to me for help, especially my parents. But this became, perhaps out of necessity, my philosophical/logistical/financial approach to the film in general: shamelessly convincing people to join the party, for free, please please please. And, in the process, if I could surround myself with enough young and talented people who were looking to gain some experience or be part of a piece like this that could showcase their skills...maybe we might actually finish this thing.

4. What’s your fave piece of gear?
My computer. It's nothing special, just a computer. It helps me write words and the internet is good for occasionally-accurate research.

Otherwise, I'm a minimalist, not really a film gear geek. It's all so expensive and a pain in the ass to move around and I'm scared I'm gonna break everything.

5. What’s the one thing you’d warn a new filmmaker NOT to do on their first film?
Don't skimp on sound, especially production audio. I shot my feature for under $10,000, and then spent almost the same amount on post-production sound, partially because it's a music/sound-based film but partially because I had to do a bunch of audio clean-up. Audiences will forgive raw, low-production-value camera work, but crappy audio is almost impossible to get away with. Getting pristine sound on set isn't always easy, but investing the time and energy and money to do the best possible job is hugely important. Our sound guy was a pro and he did a great job, but I probably made some rookie directorial decisions about shooting in non-ideal circumstances. So...don't just hand your 11-year-old neighbor a boom mic and don't assume you can fix everything in post. ADR and sound cleanup is expensive and time-consuming.

Also, don't watch Vicky Christina Barcelona.

Otherwise, my advice would be to DO everything you can. If it's your first film, you're going to make rookie mistakes and you might as well do them while taking chances making art with people you like. You've got nothing to lose but your sanity.

CAmm Fellowship! Free gear for a year!

CAmm Fellowship
Jan ‘10-Dec ‘10


The purpose of the CAmm Fellowship is to promote growth and expertise in filmmaking and time based media arts of all genres and to support the development of finished, professional film, video and media arts projects. Each year CAmm awards one Fellowship to a filmmaker or artist working in time-based media living and working in Maryland, for a specific film/video project planned for completion in that year. Fellows receive extended free use of CAmm Cage gear and the CAmm Media Lab and editing suite, for a specified time period. The Fellowship also includes a work-in-progress critique with established members of the film community (determined by the subject and format of the project) and concludes with a screening opportunity at The Patterson. Applications are evaluated on the strength of the proposed project and quality of past work. Works in progress are encouraged.

To Apply:
Submit the following materials by Fri Oct 16:
• Project description, including treatment, length of proposed work, budget and production timeline.
• List of gear and/or facilities you would like to access from CAmm. A complete list is available here www.cammcage.blogspot.com
• Reel of previous work, and/or excerpts from proposed work in progress (short films or clips from longer work, not to exceed 30 minutes total). DVD or Quicktime files are preferred.
• Written description of previous work, including title, date, media and running time.
• Resume, including contact information
• Three personal references, their relation to you and their phone number.
CAmm Fellowship Timeline:
Fri Oct 16 CAmm Fellowship Applications Due
Nov 2009 Selection Process (Strength of proposal and quality of past work evaluated by Jury)
Dec 2009 2010 CAmm Fellowship award announced
Jan-Dec 2010 2010 CAmm Fellowship (access to equipment scheduled, mid project critique, work completed and screening opportunity scheduled based on project timeline and description).

Applicants are encouraged to contact CAmm Director, Kristen Anchor with questions and to discuss your proposal. 410-276-1651, kristen@creativealliance.org
About Creative Alliance MovieMakers (CAmm):
The Creative Alliance is a dynamic artists’ organization based at The Patterson, a multi-art center in a former 1930’s movie theater in Highlandtown. Creative Alliance MovieMakers is a programming division of CA, created by artists working in film, video, and digital media with the goal of establishing Baltimore as a national center for film and new media. CAmm currently presents approximately 40 screenings and 50 professional programs annually. CAmm Cage and Media Lab offers film, video, sound and photo gear rental, a digital editing suite, DVD duplication, an iMac Lab, and a flexible classroom/screening room.

Sep-Oct Workshops!!

CAmm Sep- Oct FILM*VIDEO*DIGITAL Workshops

Wed Sep 23
Intro To Mac
Take a spin on the iMacs in the CAmm Media lab and learn basic Mac functions: effective file management, external drives, burning CDs/DVDs, shortcuts and keystrokes, iLife and Pro software tour. Instr Nick Prevas. 7-8:30pm $10, $5 mbrs Adv reg req’d.

Sat Sep 26
Fantasy & Horror Makeup
Take Halloween over the top, with special effects makeup from the pros! Steve Bauer and Marianne Wittelsberger, aka the Jokesters, produced a cable show in Hollywood for 12 years while working for Paramount, Fox, MGM, Universal and Disney. Learn how to apply powder, witch noses, elf ears and more! Expect to get messy, and bring your own makeup kit and noses/ears if you want. Basic makeup supplies provided. 10am-1pm Adv reg $60, $50 mbrs. Walk-in $70, $60 mbrs. Includes $20 materials.

Tue Oct 6
Call for Entries: Jan-Apr ‘09 Screenings, Workshops
Got an idea for a CAmm workshop, or one for artists? A new short, feature, or concept for an evening program? Ideas considered for our Jan-Apr ‘09 season. Visit creativealliance.org & click “Booking and Submissions” or 410-276-1651.

3 Thursdays: Oct 1, 8, 15
Final Cut Pro 101
Get started with Final Cut Pro! Learn system set-up, video and audio capture techniques, editing strategies, basic titling, transitions and output. Instr Instr Nick Prevas. 7-9pm. Adv reg $125, $100 mbrs. Walk-in $170, $145 mbrs.

Sat Oct 3
Shoot Like a Pro
Network cameraman Tim Keating shares survival secrets for the better, faster, cheaper, one-man-band business environment: lighting, interviews, formats, composition, best practices. Make your next shoot run smoothly. Designed to make you a better camera person from beginner to intermediate! 10am-4pm (w/ lunch break). Adv reg $105, $90 mbrs. Walk-in $140, $125 mbrs.

1st Mondays: Oct 5
CAmm Cine Lounge
CAmm Cine Lounge is the hottest indie film event in town! Bring your new film or work in progress (max length 15min) and have a critical conversation with peers. Film industry guests share tips of the trade. Networking power hour finishes the night! Bring business cards, headshots, and press packets for our info exchange tables! Bar is open with specials! 7pm. $8, $6 mbrs.

Fri Oct 16
2010 CAmm Fellowship Proposal Deadline
CAmm offers FREE access to our gear and facilities to one local artist or filmmaker each year! Access our editing suite, iMac lab, production gear, one free workshop, plus a screening in our theater. Fellows accepted on the basis of a specific project. Info: 410-276-1651 or creativealliance.org.

3 Wednesdays: Oct 14, 21, 28
Intro to After Effects
Adobe After Effects is the software of choice for pro quality motion graphics and special effects for video. Get to know the interface, tools, and applications. Craig Herron’s award winning shorts have screened at Maryland and other fests. 7-9pm Adv reg $125, $100 mbrs. Walk-in $170, $145 mbrs.

Creative Alliance at The Patterson
3134 Eastern Ave
Baltimore, MD 21224

Info and registration: www.creativealliance.org or 410-276-1651

Avant garde filmmakers Ben Balcom and Josh Weissbach @ The Patterson Monday 9/14!!

Avant garde filmmakers (they really shoot film!) Ben Balcom and Josh Weissbach stop by The Patterson on their US tour! Weissbach’s interiors of the liquid gap, an experimental doc, explores the lives of Cuban exiles before, during, and after crossing the liquid divide between Cuba and the US. Balcom employs optical printing and hand processing to shape his 16mm films into poetic visions, teetering on the line between reality and dream.

6pm CAmm Cage Happy Hour talk w/ Ben and Josh incl. free beer & pizza!

7pm Screening. $5, Cash bar.

Creative Alliance at The Patterson
3134 Eastern Ave
Baltimore, MD
21224

Info and tix: creativealliance.org, 410-276-1651

Check out their tour blog!!

interiors of the liquid gap (exerpt 1) from heap us 'round our ruins on Vimeo.

anomie compendium (exerpt from part II) from heap us 'round our ruins on Vimeo.

Intern at CAmm this Fall!

We are currently taking applicants for Fall internships at CAmm! This internship offers filmmakers and moving image artists a great opportunity to build on the skills they already have, and most importantly-- networking and meeting some of Baltimore's film and video people! In addition to this, CAmm interns get special opportunities like using our gear for shoots, building DIY gear and organizing film screenings! This is an unpaid internship, but we can offer school credit. To learn more about two of our past interns, check out these interviews with Angie Young and Eric Gonzalez.

Job Description: CAmm Cage Fall Intern (Late September- December)

CAmm Cage is seeking part time (8-12 hrs/week) intern for our film and video production rental program and media lab. Responsibilities include assisting CAmm Cage Manager, some event documentation/video editing, and assisting artists/filmmakers in our iMac computer lab. Candidates must be friendly, organized, detail oriented and must have experience using both film and video equipment. Experience with non-linear editing and Mac troubleshooting also required. Creative Alliance strives to create an open and inviting environment for the community and to that end, this position requires excellent interpersonal and customer service skills. Send cover letter (include video/film skills and why you want to intern with us), resume and 3 references to jaimes@creativealliance.org (Work samples encouraged but not required.)

Applications will be accepted through Wednesday, September 16th at 5pm.

**Creative Alliance MovieMakers July E-News Digest**

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UPCOMING CREATIVE ALLIANCE EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS–
All Creative Alliance events take place at the Creative Alliance 3134 Eastern Ave, 21224
Info and tix/registration: 410-276-1651 www.creativealliance.org
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Fri Jul 10
CAmm Indie Premiere
Lessons Learned (Young, 2009)
Baltimore’s gay-indie-horror production team Kubla Khan follow up their debut teensploitation with a psychological creeper. (Don’t worry, there’s still gore!) Justin Bishop is a gay journalist with a dark past. His obsession with a rash of serial killings sends him down a dangerous path of paranoia, nightmares, and hallucinations. Co-producer AJ Hyde co-stars. 8pm. $10, $8 mbrs, stus, cast & crew. Check out our interviews w/ Kalima and AJ on the blog! cammcage.blogspot.com
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FREE WORKSHOP! FREE BEER! FREE PIZZA!
CAmm Cage Happy Hour Talks
2nd Mondays: Jul 13, Aug 10
Free Natty Boh, pizza, networking, and a demo! Plus discount coupon for your next rental! Visit the CAmm Cage & Media Lab, have a beer, munch on pizza, meet some folks, and learn something new! Jul 13: Promote w/ Facebook w/ Kristen Anchor; Aug 10: 10 Tips for Shooting DV w/ Jaimes Mayhew. 6-7pm. FREE!

Tue Jul 14
Intro To Mac
Take a spin on the iMacs in the CAmm Media lab and learn basic Mac functions: effective file management, using external drives, burning CDs/DVDs, shortcuts and keystrokes, iLife and Pro software tour. ake a spin on the iMacs in the CAmm Media lab and learn basic Mac functions: effective file management, using external drives, burning CDs/DVDs, shortcuts and keystrokes, iLife and Pro software tour. Instr Nick Prevas. 7-8:30pm. $10, $5 mbrs Adv reg required.

CAmm A/V Cart
Creative Alliance’s newest screen for film, video, and time-based art! Look for the CAmm A/V Cart parked under the stairs in the main lobby.

Jun 26–Aug 15
Termite TV: Water and Food
Curated by Termite TV Collective
Termite TV is a collective of media makers based in Philadelphia, Buffalo, and Baltimore producing programs around themes such as WAR, TERROR, DEMOCRACY, WATER and FOOD. The programs have been broadcast by Free Speech TV and screened at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, MOMA, Hallwalls, and the Athens International Film Festival. WATER and FOOD, their most recent, are parts one and two of a trilogy about the basic necessities of human life, including video of Errol Webber’s Edible Estates project produced by Baltimore’s Contemporary Museum. Termite TV artists are: Dorothea Braemer, Carl Lee, Meg Knowles, Michael Kuetemeyer, A.Q. Quintero, Joanna Raczynska, Deborah Rudman, Anula Shetty and guests.

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Funding Ops
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National Association of Latino Arts and Culture (NALAC) Fund for the Arts - Grants of $2,500-$10,000 to support Latino working artists and ensembles and small and mid-sized Latino arts and cultural organizations. Must be NALAC member (individual membership: $35/year; organizational memberships start at $60/year) and individual artists must be 18 or older. Submit in English or Spanish. Eligible artist disciplines: Dance, Interdisciplinary Arts, Literary Arts, Media Arts, Multidisciplinary Arts, Music, Performance Art, Theatre Arts, Visual Arts. See website for guidelines and application procedure. Elisa Gonzales, Grant Program Manager, NALAC Fund for the Arts, 1208 Buena Vista St., San Antonio, TX 78207, T: (210) 432-3982, FAX: (210) 432-3934, grantmanager@nalac.org, www.nalac.org. Deadline: July 13, 2009
Native American Public Telecommunications (NAPT) Public Television Program Fund - NAPT welcomes proposals for projects in all stages, awarding $10,000-$25,000 for research and development and up to $100,000 for production and completion. Eligible genres include documentary, performance, cultural/public affairs, animation, and more. Projects must be intended for national public TV broadcast. Criteria include quantity and quality of Native American participation in creative, technical, and advisory personnel, and power of finished program to illuminate the Native American experience through public TV. NAPT funds are not intended to cover all expenses; successful projects should leverage NAPT's investment to raise additional funds. Applicants must be 21 or older, and must be U.S. citizens or legal residents. Applicants also must have previous TV or filmmaking experience. Submit 9 copies, including original, of application form (available on website), and all requested materials. Shirley Sneve, Public Television Program Fund, Native American Public Television, 1800 N. 33rd St., Lincoln, NE 68503, T: (402) 472-0208, ssneve2@unl.edu, http://nativetelecom.org/producers_programfund. Deadline: July 15, 2009
Abu Dhabi Film Commission - Shasha Grant - International screenwriting and pitch competition designed to identify, develop and launch the careers of outstanding filmmakers. The program exposes emerging filmmakers to high-level industry decision makers and facilitates financing for talented writers and directors from around the world. Finalists will be invited to Abu Dhabi to attend The Circle Conference and participate in all events. Finalists are paired with industry executives to brainstorm to create and refine pitch strategies for the 6 chosen projects. Each finalist pitches their project to a selection jury comprised of industry insiders for evaluation. The winning filmmaker will receive a $100,000 production grant and a first look deal with Imagenation, Abu Dhabi's billion-dollar film fund. All projects must fulfill one or more of the following criteria: the subject matter is set in the Middle East or North Africa; one of the key members (writer, producer, or director) is Emirati or a resident of the Middle East or of Middle Eastern or North African descent; the project is to be filmed in the UAE. Additional guidelines: open to teams of a writer and director or writer and producer who have completed a short, feature, or documentary film that was awarded a prize, has been screened at an international film festival or has had a broadcast commission. Writers may not have more than 2 produced feature screenplays; directors may not have directed more than one feature film. Projects should be presented in English. Projects must be a completed feature screenplay or feature documentary project. See website for full guidelines and application procedures. NO FEE. Abu Dhabi Film Commission, Shash Grant, P.O. Box 2380, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, T: +971 02 417 7444, FAX: +971 02 443 6076, shasha@film.gov.ae, http://www.thecircle.ae. Deadline: July 15, 2009
Global Film Initiative Production Grants - Production grants of up to $10,000 each to filmmakers whose work exhibits artistic excellence, authentic self-representation, and accomplished storytelling. Supports completion of film production and post-production costs for feature-length (longer than 60 minutes) films. Does not support shorts or documentaries. Films may be in pre-production, poduction, or post-production, and must have substantial production funding in place. Accepts applications from countries in the following regions: Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East (excluding Iran), Asia (excluding Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan), and Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand). See website for guidelines and application procedures. NOTE: No phone calls. The Global Film Initiative, 145 Ninth St., #105, San Francisco, CA 94103, FAX: (415) 934-9501, gfi-info@globalfilm.org, http://globalfilm.org/guidelines_en.htm. Deadline: July 15, 2009
Cinereach Film Fellowship (August, 2009-March 2010) - 6-month program that supports 4 young filmmakers with a $5,000 grant, resources, and industry mentors who help guide their short films through all stages of production. Fellows also receive production support from sponsors, workshops, career coaching, and industry exposure. Industry judges will award an additional $5,000 to the most outstanding film of the 4, which will also screen at Cinereach's annual Reach Out event in the spring. Cinereach is seeking artful films that depict underrepresented perspectives, cross cultural boundaries, and promote dialogue. Open to filmmakers who completed film studies programs in 2008 or 2009. Self-taught filmmakers may also apply, but are advised to discuss their eligibility with Cinereach staff before submitting an application. Applicants must also be able to reside in the New York Tri-State area from August, 2009 through April, 2010 to meet the fellowship requirements. Application forms available on website. The Reach Film Fellowship, c/o Cinereach Ltd., 27 W. 24th St., Suite 200, New York, NY 10010, http://www.reachfilmfellowship.com/. Deadline: July 15, 2009
General Mills Foundation's Celebrating Communities of Color Grants - Awards grants of $10,000 to nonprofit organizations in the 7-county Minneapolis-St. Paul Twin Cities metro area that are serving communities of color. Awards are for project support only (no operating or capital support). Arts and Cultre category supports innovative performing arts and cultural programs as evidenced through innovation, program quality, and contribution to community. NOTE: Application must be completed online (see website). General Mills Foundation Celebrating Communities of Color Grants Program, T: (763) 764-2211, FAX: (763) 764-4114, communityactionqa@genmills.com, www.generalmills.com/corporate/commitment/foundation.aspx. Deadline: July 15, 2009
National Association of Latino Arts and Culture (NALAC) Transnational Cultural Remittances (TRC) Project - Grants from $2,000-$20,000 to strengthen the exchange of art and culture between communities linked by people's migration from one country to another. Funds exemplary cultural exchange projects that support grassroots artistic and cultural practices and strengthen social networks across national boundaries in migrant communities. Eligible projects must demonstrate an ongoing connection between 2 or more of the following countries: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and the United States. Open to individual artists and non-profit organizations in any of these countries that are creating ongoing cultural exchange between disparate communities through work for human rights, social justice, and economic empowerment. These exchanges may be in person or electronic, but must be reciprocal and must extend cultural knowledge across borders. Grant period is from September 1, 2009-August 31, 2010. Grants are available for specific projects, i.e. community festivals featuring transnational arts and culture, or for planning, i.e. developing or documenting transnational artistic collaborations. NOTE: Application must be submitted partially online, through website, and partially by regular mail. See website for full guidelines and application procedure. NALAC/TCR Program, 1208 Buena Vista, San Antonio, TX 78207, info@nalac.org, http://www.nalac.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=186&Itemid=232. Deadline: July 24, 2009
Independent Television Service (ITVS) Open Call - Providing finishing funds for single public TV programs from independent U.S. producers on any subject, from any viewpoint, in any genre except fiction. Projects must have begun production as evidenced by a work-in-progress tape, and must be possible to complete within 1 year of contract. There is no maximum or minimum cut-off for funding amount, but Open Call funds must be the last needed for completion of the project. See website for complete guidelines and application procedure. Karim Ahmad, Programming Coordinator, Independent Television Service (ITVS), 651 Brannan St., Suite 410, San Francisco, CA 94110, T: (415) 356-8383 ext. 259, FAX: (415) 356-8391, itvs@itvs.org, www.itvs.org/producers/funding.html. Receipt Deadline: July 31, 2009

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CAmm Member Announcements and Updates!
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New DVD, “Discovering Maryland Wines with John DiTomasso”
Maryland has wineries? Yes, it surely does! In making "Discovering Maryland Wines," we attempted to address the most commonly asked questions about wine and winemaking in a compact, 57-minute video. We visited six of the approximately 30 commercial wineries in the state of Maryland to capture the whole wine cycle, from harvesting to bottling to pruning. We interviewed Kevin Atticks, Executive Director of the Maryland Wineries Association, and key people from Linganore Winecellars (the largest winery in the state), Boordy Vineyards (the oldest and next largest), Basignani Winery, Deep Creek Cellars, Fridays Creek Winery, and Loew Vineyards. The video begins with our interviewer John DiTomasso asking Kevin Atticks, “Are these wines good?” Might as well get that question out of the way right away! Discussions include pairing wine with food; proper glasses to use; fermenting in stainless steel tanks and in oak barrels; how aging in barrels affects the wine; what constitutes a dry wine, a sweet wine; how long reds and whites last in the bottle; storing wine; the best stoppers or closures to use; the optimal weather for growing grapes; and dealing with hungry "Critters" that want to share in the harvest.
A preview of "Discovering Maryland Wines”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrOIOn0Rkl8

Buy it on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=discovering+Maryland+wines+with+John+DiTomasso&x=18&y=19

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Calls for Entry + Residencies
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Zero Film Festival - LA and NYC (December 1-15, 2009, Los Angeles, CA, and New York, NY) - Festival that screens exclusively self-financed films and helps under-represented filmmakers gain exposure, distribution, and financing. Selected films from the festival will go on to tour the East and West Coasts. Seeking original and innovative films that are completely self-financed in the following categories: Feature (over 45 minutes; narratives, documentaries, and everything in between; open to all genres), Short (under 45 minutes; narrative or documentary; all genres), Experimental (especially interested in progressive experimental films), Animation, and Music Video. FEE: $15-$135. Zero Film Festival - LA and NYC, P.O. Box 25616, Brooklyn, NY 11202, T: (206) 697-4821, info@zerofilmfest.com, http://www.zerofilmfest.com. Deadline: July 1, 2009 (early), September 1, 2009 (regular), October 1, 2009 (late), October 15, 2009 (extended, via withoutabox.com)

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*Alliance of Women Filmmakers Script Competition** (Formerly Reel Women Script Competition) - Seeks to advance the careers of women writers who help create more diverse and powerful roles for women. 5 finalists and one winner will be chosen in each category, Feature and Short. All finalists will receive a script critique and passes to the film festival to be held in March. FEE: $30-$65. Alliance of Women Filmmakers Script Competition, 1317 N. San Fernando Blvd. #340, Burbank, CA 91504, T: (818) 749-6162, dmeans25@yahoo.com, http://www.reelfestivalforwomen.org/. Deadline: July 15, 2009 (early), August 15, 2009 (regular), September 15, 2009 (late), September 30, 2009 (extended, via withoutabox.com)
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Indie Can Film Festival (October 1-4, 2009, Woodbridge, ON, Canada) - Aims to showcase the world of independent, no-budget or small-budget commercial cinema - films made by committed filmmakers working outside of mainstream channels of production and distribution. There is no selection process; all submitted films will be screened (with the exception of films deemed pornographic). Screenings are free to the public. Screening slots are limited; no more films will be accepted after all slots are filled. Seeking films in the following categories: Feature (51-120 minutes), Mid-Length (16-50 minutes), Short (1-15 minutes), and Music Video. FEE: $25-$135. Indie Can Film Festival, 27 Roytec Road, Unit 3, Woodbridge, ON L4L 8E3, Canada, T: (647) 883-6859, indiecanfilmfestival@lycos.com, http://www.indiecanfilmfestival.com. Deadline: July 15, 2009 (regular), July 31, 2009 (late)
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Savannah International Animation Festival (February 5-6, 2010, Savannah, GA) - Festival of Animation. Seeking entries from independent, professional, and student filmmakers in the following categories: Stop Motion Animation, Computer Animation, Traditional Animation, Experimental Animation, Television Animation, Web Animation, Gaming Animation, Visual Effects, Animatronics, and Student Animation. Prizes will be awarded in multiple categories. FEE: $0-$45. Savannah International Animation Festival, P.O. Box 30535, Savannah, GA 31410, T: (912) 414-3863, info@imagimationstudios.com, http://www.svannahinternationalanimationfestival.com. Deadline: July 15, 2009 (early), September 15, 2009 (regular), November 15, 2009 (late), December 1, 2009 (extended, via withoutabox.com)
L.A. Center for Digital Art "DigitalArt.LA" Exposition (August 13-September 5, 2009, Los Angeles, CA) - Seeking all styles of artwork and photography in which digital processes of any kind were integral to their creation: digital art stills of any kind, digital photography, short experimental time-based video, video loops, mobile media, interactive media, and internet art. Selected winners will be exhibited as the central focus of the "DigitalArt.LA" exposition in a large group exhibit at the LACDA gallery. Video winners will also be screened at the Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles. The show will be widely promoted and will include a reception for the artists. NOTE: Online registration only. No phone calls. FEE: $30. L.A. Center for Digital Art, 107 West Fifth St., Los Angeles, CA 90013, lacda@lacda.com, http://lacda.com/juried/juriedshow.html. Deadline: July 20, 2009
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A Night of Horror International Film Festival (March 25-April 3, 2010, Beecroft, NSW, Australia) - Dedicated to screening and promoting the work of independent filmmakers working in the horror genre from both Australia and abroad. Seeking films in the following categories: Horror Feature, Horror Short (45 minutes or under), H.P. Lovecraft Inspired Short Film (45 minutes or under), Horror Themed Music Video, Feature Horror Screenplay (45-130 pages), and Short Horror Screenplay (under 45 pages). FEE: $15-$70 Australian. A Night of Horror International Film Festival, P.O. Box 143, Beecroft, NSW 2119, Australia, T: +61 2 9482 4019, info@anightofhorror.com, http://www.anightofhorror.com. Deadline: July 31, 2009 (early), October 2, 2009 (regular), December 18, 2009 (late), December 31, 2009 (extended, via withoutabox.com)
Paranoia Horror and Sci-Fi Convention and Film Festival (March 12-14, 2010, Long Beach, CA) - Held aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA. Seeking Horror and Sci-Fi submissions in the following categories: Screenplay (75 pages minimum), Trailer (10 seconds-3 minutes), Short Film (1-59 minutes), Feature (60 minutes or longer), Documentary (60 minutes or longer), and Music Video (1-59 minutes). FEE: $0-$75. Paranoia Horror and Sci-Fi Convention and Film Festival, 137 N. Larchmont Blvd. #139, Los Angeles, CA 90004, james@paranoiafest.com, http://www.paranoiafest.com. Deadline: July 31, 2009 (early), October 31, 2009 (regular), November 30, 2009 (late), December 31, 2009 (extended, via withoutabox.com)
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Experimental Television Center (September, 2009 - January, 2010, Owego, NY) - Residencies of 3-5 days average, though requests for longer stays will be considered. Supports projects which approach media as a contemporary electronic and cinematic art form. Artists have unlimited access to the media library and the imaging system, which includes G-4 and G-5 computers, custom built equipment by media artists, new and vintage analog audio and video processors and synthesizers, editing software, and dozens of other tools that encourage artists to explore boundaries and intersections in works ranging from narrative and documentary to more experimental forms, including performative media and work for the web. Artists will have the opportunity to display work through museum and gallery exhibitions, as well as through cable, broadcast, and on the web. Artists must have prior experience in video production or with other electronic systems. Application process is informal; provide a project description (with an indication of the ways in which you would like to use the imaging system), a resume (indicating your knowledge of equipment operation), a requested 5-day period for stay, and a tape sample (DV, 3/4", or VHS) of recent works. Residency provides housing (if needed) and access to studio, as well as instruction in using equipment. Artist is responsible for travel, meals, and residency fee ($100 each 5 days). Artists may bring production assistants or other crew. NO FEE. Experimental Television Center, 109 Lower Fairfield Rd., Newark Valley, NY 13811, T: (607) 687-4341, etc@experimentaltvcenter.org, http://www.experimentaltvcenter.org/ResidenciesIndex.html. Deadline: July 15, 2009

Lower Manhattan Cultural Council's Swing Space (November 2009-July 2010, New York, NY) - Works with downtown building owners to make vacant space available to artists, curators, and arts organizations for the development and presentation of new projects in the visual and performing arts. Encourages creative, experimental and collaborative approaches to artistic practice in unconventional spaces. Recommended projects are matched with vacant spaces as they become available. Applications are accepted for development space, presentation space, and office space for projects in the visual and performing arts. Projects are placed in spaces from 1-6 months, depending on project needs and space availability. Spaces are varied in nature, and have included raw office floors, finished offices, ground floor retail storefronts, and basement bank vaults, in varying states of condition. Limited access to equipment may be available. LMCC will publicize Swing Space projects on their website. Visual and performing artists and curators must have at least 3 years of experience working at a professional level in their field; arts or cultural organizations must have 501(c)(3) non-profit status or fiscal sponsorship. Applicants do not need to be based in New York; however, artists should be within commuting distance for the duration of the project, and must be able to accept a space on short notice (i.e. 1 month). Housing not provided. NOTE: Applications must be submitted partially online and partially by mail; see website for complete guidelines and procedures. NO FEE. Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, 125 Maiden Lane, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10038, (212) 219-9401, FAX: (212) 219-2058, http://lmcc.net/art/swingspace/overview/2009/apply.html. Receipt Deadline: July 17, 2009
Yaddo (October, 2009-May, 2010, Saratoga Springs, NY) - Residencies of an average of 5 weeks for writers, filmmakers, media artists, visual artists, and performing artists working at the professional level in their fields. Facilities include dance/choreography studios, exhibition/installation spaces, and performing arts space. Residency provides housing, meals, studio, travel assistance, and materials stipend. Artists responsible for additional materials or travel costs. NOTE: Applications must be submitted by regular mail. See website for guidelines. FEE: $20. Yaddo, P.O. Box 395, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, T: (518) 584-0746, FAX: (518) 584-1312, yaddo@yaddo.org, www.yaddo.org. Deadline: August 1, 2009
Montana Artists Refuge (through May 2010, Basin, MT) - Residencies between 1-3 months for national and international artists in all disciplines. Housing and studio provided. Artists responsible for food, travel, materials, and residency fee ($450-$550) plus deposit ($200). Artists are encouraged to engage in community outreach. Full scholarships available to Montana American-Indian artists; additional one-month scholarships are available (contact organization for more details). Application available on website. NO FEE. Montana Artists Refuge, 101&103 Basin St. P.O. Box 8, Basin, MT 59631, T: (406) 225-3500, FAX: (406) 225-3500, mar@mt.net, www.montanarefuge.org. Receipt Deadline: August 15, 2009


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Crew/Casting Calls
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CASTING CALL for UNTITLED ART PROJECT
Application Instructions
How do you go from struggling, emerging or even semi-established artist to selling a complete show for $198 million? It’s a big art world out there, but maybe this is one place to start!
Magical Elves (Peabody Award-winning Project Runway, Emmy Award-winning Top Chef) and Sarah Jessica Parker (Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-winner) and her production company, Pretty Matches, are teaming up for an hour-long creative competition series among aspiring contemporary artists who will create and compete to conquer the art world!
If you’re an emerging or mid-career artist with a unique, powerful voice that demands a bigger stage – well. . . Here. It. Is.
We want contemporary artists. Your medium could be one of many (or several of many) – painting, sculpture, installation, video, photography, mixed-media – we want voices that believe in their art and want the world to know.
Attend one of our four regional casting calls around the country and we will consider you for participation in this groundbreaking show.
Casting Calls for The Untitled Art Project are as follows:
LOS ANGELES
Saturday, July 11 & Sunday, July 12, 10 AM – 2 PM
LAXART
www.laxart.org
MIAMI
Tuesday, July 14, 10 AM – 2 PM
Fredric Snitzer Gallery
www.Snitzer.com
CHICAGO
Thursday, July 16, 10 AM – 2 PM
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Sullivan Galleries, 33 State Street
www.saic.edu
NEW YORK
Saturday, July 18 & Sunday, July 19, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
White Columns
www.whitecolumns.org

(IMPORTANT: See below and attached for what you must bring to the open call.)
GOOD LUCK!
1. Please fill out the APPLICATION legibly, using dark colored ink. If you run out of space answering any question, please attach additional pages and reference the question(s) you are answering on such additional pages.
2. You must fill out the entire application. Do not leave any question unanswered. If any question is not applicable to you, write N/A in the space provided, or if no space is provided, next to the question. Failure to answer any question may be grounds for not considering your application.
3. Please write only on the printed side of the paper, but feel free to attach additional sheets if necessary.
4. PLEASE, take your time and answer completely and honestly. When you are done, please sign and bring the completed application, (along with additional elements listed below), to one of our open casting calls (Go to www.bravotv.com/casting for dates and information).
PLEASE BRING THE FOLLOWING TO THE OPEN CASTING CALLS:
1) YOUR COMPLETED AND SIGNED APPLICATION (NOTE: YOU WILL NOT BE ADMITTED TO THE OPEN CASTING CALL UNLESS THIS APPLICATION AND THE CERTIFICATION OF VERACITY IS COMPLETED AND SIGNED);
2) A “DIGITAL PORTFOLIO” WITH REPRESENTATIONS OF AT LEAST 10 PIECES OF ARTWORK, PREFERABLY MORE. THE DIGITAL PORTFOLIO MUST BE ON A CD-ROM OR USB FLASH DRIVE/JUMP DRIVE THAT IS CLEARLY LABELED WITH YOUR NAME, PHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL ADDRESS. THE DIGITAL PORTFOLIO WILL
BE LEFT WITH CASTING AND NOT RETURNED TO YOU;
3) A HARD COPY PORTFOLIO THAT SHOWS YOUR RANGE/DEPTH OF WORK. THIS HARD COPY PORTFOLIO WILL BE REVIEWED ON-SITE BY CASTING, SO PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD. THIS HARD COPY WILL NOT BE LEFT WITH CASTING;
4) IF POSSIBLE, ANY ORIGINAL ARTWORK THAT IS EASILY TRANSPORTABLE. THESE PIECES OF ARTWORK WILL BE FOR REVIEW ON-SITE AND YOU WILL NOT LEAVE THIS ARTWORK WITH CASTING; AND
5) AN UPDATED RESUME.
Thank you for your time and effort and GOOD LUCK!
Click here for the UNTITLED ART PROJECT APPLICATION.
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Signature Enterprises is looking for one main model/actor for an upcoming
commercial to be shot in mid August. We are looking for a multi racial or
Spanish female who is very attractive. She must have little to know
eyebrows since this is a commercial for an eyebrow product. We will be
paying $500.00 flat rate. You must be at least 5 ft. 7inches with a slim
built. For more information contact Kat at Kgmodelsearch86@gmail.com

Please include resume and one full body shot and one head shot.
Also send one untouched image of yourself so that we can see
your eyebrows. Thank you and good luck.

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STORYBOARD ARTIST NEEDED FOR INDEPENDENT FEATURE FILM

Looking for an experienced storyboard artist to collaborate with our
Director and create
boards for our entire independent feature project.

This is a fully paid position – I'm NOT looking for students, but
professionals with prior feature credits.

As this is an independent lower budget project the compensation will
be in the median
pay range for the position and the right individual.

TO SUBMIT:
Be sure to email your RESUME, and LINKS to your website or examples of
your work asap to:
dalefx@yahoo.com

Dale Winsor Tanguay
Line Producer, Post Supervisor
Director: Jon. I am producing a NON-UNION, no/low budget short HDV a
nd am in need of three actors, each for complex and challenging roles,
for two untitled shorts.

The shoot will be for one day, tentatively either Saturday July 25 or Sunday
July 26. The location is York, PA. If needed, I am willing to car pool
(provide transportation) for the actors to and from the location. I can
afford to pay a modest $50 to each actor. In addition, food, credit, and
copy of the final movie will be provided. Each actor must sign a release form.

This short will be submitted to regional film festivals with the potentiality
of an Imdb listing.

AUDITIONS:
TUESDAY JULY 7, 2009
5:00PM-9:00PM
Chesapeake Arts Center
194 Hammonds Lane Brooklyn Park,
Maryland 21225 | 410-636-6597

Please contact Jon, at projectshorts@gmail.com
or 443-878-3180

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Jobs
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https://hrnt.jhu.edu/jhujobs/job_view.cfm?view_req_id=39312&view=sch
The MultiMedia Systems Specialist will be responsible for the integration of multi-media into the design and development of online courses. Working to meet faculty needs in AAP, the position will coordinate and develop multimedia projects for online delivery to students, assist in the implementation of other multi-media technologies, and perform a multitude of differing and immediate responsibilities as new technology is adopted. The successful candidate will provide leadership in the artistic and visual design and usability of online multimedia resources. Incumbent must remain current about advances in technology and research about online multimedia in a teaching environment, and recommend and implement new formats, technology, and integrations.
This position will entail designing and developing multimedia projects including but not limited to graphics, animations, audio narrated PowerPoint presentations, audio recordings, video presentations, screen captures, and simulations. The successful candidate will provide hands on technical expertise in multimedia development, and will be actively capturing, editing, and rendering video, audio, and other media into streaming multimedia using Adobe products such as Premier. Will also utilize other products, formats, and platforms, such as online conferencing software and screen capture technology, to produce educational multimedia.
More Info: http://www.jhu.edu/
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YOUNG AUDIENCES/ARTS FOR LEARNING SEEKS TEACHING ARTISTS FOR 2009/2010 SCHOOL YEAR (NEW)
Post date: June 26, 2009
Young Audiences of Maryland a non-profit art education organization manages two after-school programs in Baltimore city. Both are public schools which accept applicants city-wide and expose students to various art forms. Applicant will be working with either junior high or high school students. We are particularly interested in: music, theater, poetry, hip-hop, step dance or media instructors.
The Teaching Artist will:
Plan and implement a 15 week syllabus. Teach one class of up to 25 students at one or our after-school sites. Assist with set-up and/or break-down of materials, etc. before/after class (3:15 set-up/5:00 breakdown). Plan, order, and prepare materials required for the course. Provide one-on-one assistance with students, review concepts and techniques, etc. Participate everyday that program takes place. Tues, Weds, Thurs 3:45-4:45 or Weds 1:30-4:30. Assist with coordination of final student showcase – at the end of each semester.
Compensation:
Teaching Artists will be compensated at a rate of $65.00 per class + mileage
Teaching assistants also needed for those wishing to gain teaching experience: Compensation $13-$17/hr
Please send cover letter and resume to:
Brendan@yamd.org
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REGINALD F. LEWIS MUSEUM SEEKS PUBLIC PROGRAMS CORDINATOR
Post date: June 12
The Reginald F. Lewis Museum seeks an experienced Public Programs Coordinator responsible for developing and facilitating an array of artistic, cultural and educational programs, events and activities that enhance the learning and participation of museum members, school groups, scholars, and the general public.

Qualifications:
Undergraduate degree (required); graduate degree (preferred) in a discipline or related field of history, arts and humanities, education, or museum studies. A minimum of two (2) years of relevant experience in a museum, school, university, or non-profit center. Candidates must have a record of successfully executed programs: demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral; and multi-task.
Salary: Commensurate with experience and qualifications. State benefits package.
Send cover letter, resume, 3 professional references, and work samples to: woods@maamc.org; mail to: MAAMC, 830 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, Attn: Human Resources; fax to: (410) 333-1138, Attn: Human Resources.
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JHU SEEKING MULTIMEDIA ARTISTS TO WORK IN MEDIA LAB
Post date: May 29
The Johns Hopkins University Digital Media Center (DMC) will be looking to fill two part time Multimedia Artist positions - one with an emphasis on video production and the other emphasizing graphics, animation, and web design. In several weeks, the positions will appear online at https://hrnt.jhu.edu/jhujobs
The DMC is a non-academic lab located on the Hopkins Homewood campus in the Mattin Arts Center. In addition to supporting students in their use of multimedia technology we develop extra-curricular programs that provide opportunities to integrate art and science. Please view our web site at http://digitalmedia.jhu.edu.
Multimedia Artist - Video Job Description:
Instruct students in video and multimedia technology through non-credit workshops and one-on-one mentoring. Set-up and maintain digital video equipment, organize special projects and events, participate in departmental multimedia collaborations. This 20-hour per week "casual" position requires some evening and weekend hours. The successful candidate will be encouraged to interact with the Baltimore-Washington digital arts community and to share connections and collaborations with JHU students.
Qualifications: MA, MFA, with emphasis in multimedia. Superior knowledge of digital video cameras, assorted lighting and audio-recording equipment. Superior knowledge of video work flow, editing, effects, and compression techniques. Familiarity with Dreamweaver, Photoshop, InDesign, Flash and other Adobe Creative Suite applications. Must be able to learn new technology independently. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to teach 1-on-1 and in small groups
Additional experience with circuit bending, interactivity, generative art, immersive installation, and gaming is a plus.
Multimedia Artist - Design, Web, and Animation Job Description:
Instruct students in video and multimedia technology through non-credit workshops and one-on-one mentoring. Organize special projects and events, participate in departmental multimedia collaborations. This 20-hour per week "casual" position requires some evening and weekend hours. The successful candidate will be encouraged to interact with the Baltimore-Washington digital arts community and to share connections and collaborations with JHU students.
Qualifications: MA, MFA, with emphasis in graphic design and multimedia. Superior knowledge of design for print, screen, and interactivity. Superior knowledge of Photoshop, InDesign, Dreamweaver, Flash/Action script, other Adobe Creative Suite applications. Working knowledge of a variety of web technologies and content management systems. Must be able to learn new technology independently. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to teach 1-on-1 and in small groups. Additional experience with 3-D modeling, circuit bending, interactivity, generative art, immersive installation, and gaming is a plus.

For more information, please email Joan Freedman, Director JHU Digital Media Center freedman@jhu.edu.

**This list is compiled as a service of CAmm. If you’d like to post an announcement, call, or event OR if you’d like to be removed from this list please email Kristen@creativealliance.org**
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Like what CAmm has to offer? Want to be a part of it and support local film and video making in Baltimore? Become a member! http://www.creativealliance.org/membership/index.html

Tour The Big Show with Artistic Director Jed Dodds!

Take 5 Interview w/ Lessons Learned creators Kalima Young & AJ Hyde!

Kalima Young and Aj Hyde are independent film making, professional adventuring superheroes; able to bend probability, time & space to get the job done. Recently they've conducted controlled experiments in telepathic exchange (so as to abolish clunky cellular devices) and love to cook up a mean Sunday Dinner to replenish themselves during/after intense sessions of editing. They excel in GLBTQ cinema and are based in Baltimore, Hon!

Kubla Khan Productions' latest feature, Lessons Learned, premieres Friday, July 10, 2009 at Creative Alliance. Lessons Learned is a psychological thriller about a rash of killings in Mt. Vernon and troubled journalist who doesn't know if he is the killer or the next victim. Check it out at: www.lessonslearnedfilm.net.

1. What’s the last movie you loved and what was the last movie you hated?

Star Trek (2009) was definitely the most recent film that we absolutely loved. Being Trekkies, it was really amazing to watch this new incarnation of familiar characters and storyline. The casting was perfect, performances on point, the story engaged us immediately from the prologue, all the music, special effects... it was just a totally solid piece of Hollywood science fiction. Four very enthusiastic thumbs way up.

Last movie we hated collectively? Hostel. Or the remake of Wes Craven's The Hills Have Eyes. Complete nonsense. We're both horror fans and this new Super Gore, Torture Porn schtick with contemporary horror filmmakers is both extremely distasteful and disappointing. We want to be scared and thrilled, not grossed the fuck out. There's a difference there, a definitive line, and we feel the scare should come from the plight, not the blood (and guts and brains and intestines, and spinal cords and severed genitalia...) itself.


2. What’s your guilty pleasure movie or TV show?

Aj: Heheh, Sailormoon. I know every season inside and out and three ways backwards from Sunday. It can be extra cute, and sometimes girlie, and sometimes very ridiculous... but the messages are true and I dig every bit of it. I mean, the mythologies alone are worth it. Ancient rulers of Planetary Kingdoms fighting evil 1000 years later on present day Earth? haha, yeah, nuff said.

Kalima: Bubble Boy is the bomb leather. I frakin love that movie to death and its stupid as all get out. The premise is classic and the characters are great. I also love the bubble itself. You just can't beat, "Oh, you're not a singing group, you're a cult!" I sometimes want to join the Bright and Shiny cult myself these days.



3. How’d you get into filmmaking?

Kalima: I used to want to be an MTV VJ but when I got to college I liked making videos more than imitating Kurt Loder. So I kept at it. I love film and film making because of the collective creative output of good people working for a common purpose. That shit gets addictive.

Aj: I met Kalima. :D


4. What’s your fave piece of gear?

Aj: I think I'm gonna have to go with our camera. We really wouldn't be doing much film making at all without it. It's pretty essential.


Kalima: I have a mad toss up between our G5 (gillian) and our new Jib arm. What a sexy beast that thing is. We didn't have it set up completely for Lessons Learned (Premiers July 10, 2009 at the Creative Alliance) but we are going to break that puppy out for our new film, This War. I'm gonna ride that jib like a Harley on a rough piece of road.


5. What’s the one thing you’d warn a new filmmaker NOT to do on their first film?

Kalima: Don't throw your budget to the wind. Make a budget, stick to it and try to get as many things for free as possible. Also- never let your cast and crew starve. EVER.


Aj: The number one bit of advice I could offer, which also happens to be something to keep in mind if one finds themselves hitchhiking across the galaxy: Don't Panic. Shit happens, people don't show up, it rains during an outside shoot, you realize you didn't schedule enough time for any given shoot... Don't Panic. One of the most significant lessons I've learned as a filmmaker is that of flexibility. To think quickly and on my toes and to always, always keep a level head. Perspective and clarity of thought, even during a 15hour shoot on the hottest day in the middle of summer is key. Don't. Panic.

Jaimes also caught up with Kalima at the MD Film Fest to chat about filmmaking, Baltimore, and fake blood: