Le Blog - All About Film, New Media and More

Ken Burns on Storytelling

Eufemme Films, LLC — Mon, 28 May 2012 08:38:49 +0000

Crowd-source funding model helps filmmakers get their movies made.

Eufemme Films, LLC — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 07:04:09 +0000

Filmmaker turns to Kickstarter, where users contributed a total of $11,000 in increments as small as $5, in exchange for producer credits on his film. Read how Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker James Spione produced and directed Incident in New Baghdad, all due to his crowdfunding efforts.

Building an audience of supporters BEFORE you actually need them becomes more critical to successfully fund, launch and market a film.

How Ed Burns made the film 'Newlyweds' for $9K

Eufemme Films, LLC — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 03:09:19 +0000

Happy New Year! As 2011 comes to a close, 2012 looks really bright for indie filmmakers when you have Ed Burns pulling off the production of a feature-length film, Newlyweds for $9,000. That's right--$9K. Barriers to getting a film made keep dropping for filmmakers and it continues to become more plausible to make a good film with crowdfunding available through sites like Kickstarter or Indiegogo, and new consumer cameras with cutting-edge technology. Check out this article and the video below where Burns shares the process. Get inspired. I know I am.

And here's the trailer.

Sundance Institute Artist Services Initiative - Towards a Digital Distribution Alternative

Eufemme Films, LLC — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 19:34:43 +0000

Sundance creates a virtual library of Sundance titles on the web. The filmmakers own the titles, but they carry the Sundance brand. Read more here. The future is upon us.

Multiplatform Production Strategies Are Driving the Budding Breed of Content Creators

Eufemme Films, LLC — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:39:24 +0000

Time to re-think those film and TV show ideas with a multi-platform production strategy. But you know this if you've been reading this blog at any given time, or you're plugged in to what Lance Weiler has been doing for some time. But Mike Henry does a good job of outlining a solid game plan for succeeding with a multi-platform production (MMP) approach in this article:

Start with great characters and stories
Consider not the just age/gender/psychographic of their audience, but where and how this audience will likely consume the content
Carefully develop production strategies and cycles to deliver assets that can be packaged in different ways for various platforms, audience and markets
Consider and explore international markets from project inception
Place a high value on the social networks attached to talent with whom they work

The article is a good summation of where we are in the online video evolution and how "producers that understand and embrace multiplatform production (MPP) strategies will ultimately dominate the business that TV becomes. [...] Traditional producers who embrace MPP and are willing to take risks will find that they're well-positioned to compete and scale in a digital age." Jump on the train, it's leaving the station.

Filmmaker Nina Paley: Frees Up Her Copyright for Art and Profit and Succeeds

Eufemme Films, LLC — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:26:00 +0000

I love stories like this because I love to see filmmakers get their films not only made, but distributed and released so that they can be seen and thus attract an audience for their future works. The only route most filmmakers used to have to reach this goal were outlets like film festivals. If their films got into a festival they hoped and prayed that their films would get picked up by a distributor. These days, that is less likely to be the end result of a festival. The indie film renaissance is, well, not a renaissance anymore.

But now, filmmakers have some other options, if they are willing to let that first film be their calling card. It's a risky proposition, but in this case, it paid off. See how Nina did it, a cartoonist/filmmaker, in this recent article. I'm always encouraged when I see a filmmaker get some recognition with their film using new models of distribution. Now, I haven't seen her film, so that's a "qualified statement". But, I suspect it's pretty good if she's made some cash, oui? Trés bien Nina!

Call Yourself a Hollywood Producer: For a Small Price, Now You Can

Eufemme Films, LLC — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 05:41:58 +0000

This recent article in TechCrunch is "deja vu" for me. But perhaps the time has come. A production company called Audience Productions has filed to go public with the SEC, and are selling $10/share preferred stock to people who want to invest in the movie they’re creating called “Lydia Slotnick Unplugged“ This is great. And perhaps this film will actually get made.
But about 10 years ago, I recall another version of this idea by a company called Civilian Pictures with a movie they were attempting to make by selling shares to quasi-qualified investors. I beieve Diane Keaton was involved as a producer, and Ethan Hawke was to star in the film. I don't think the movie every got made but would have to verify that. Yet, I remember thinking at the time that the idea was innovative and I secretly hoped it would work. Perhaps with Audience Productions, the concept will see the 'greenlight'. What do you think--will you invest in the Audience Production project and claim your Producer credit? Hang on, I've got 'Ari Gold' on the other line.

Chris Anderson: How web video powers global innovation

Eufemme Films, LLC — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 08:17:20 +0000

Do you like TEDTalks? Here's an interesting one given by the founder of TEDTalks on the subject of innovation and how innovation is fostered by the proliferation of web video and the power of the crowd.

Cisco's Dan Scheinman Talks Web Video, Media Companies and their Customers

Eufemme Films, LLC — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 23:07:54 +0000

I found myself nodding in agreement as I watched this. Dan Scheinman of Cisco shares his thoughs on the future of digital content.

Philips and Ridley Scott create 'Parallel Lines' a branded entertainment series

Eufemme Films, LLC — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 10:46:46 +0000

I came across this web series while reading an article on brands like Philips discovering the opportunities offered by long-form video advertising. The official trailer of the Parallel Lines project from Philips Cinema and Ridley Scott Associates features five short films, five genres, five of RSAs hottest directors, and one unifying piece of dialogue. The films, and an on-going film competition, are both available on YouTube. The premise seems to fit the product: Philips televisions. The film series objective is to give viewers the chance to experience the Ambilight, picture and sound capabilities of Philips TVs for themselves. I like the campaign copy: "There are millions of ways to tell a story. There's only one way to watch one." More info here: http://www.philips.com/cinema