directors

Join us at KarmaRadio for film directing philosophy!

FableForge — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:12:00 +0000

Good people, we dont have a guest tonight, instead, all directors are invited to call in and philosophize about their role, particularly VOAT directors: we want to hear your plans regarding how are you going to shoot your assigned movies! Are you casting? Do you have locations ready? Any script changes?

Come join us tonight! The time is 7 PM Eastern, and the call-in number is: (347) 215-8713

See you there, looking forward to some great discussion :)

Official Invitation for our Next KarmaCritic Contest

FableForge — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 01:03:30 +0000

Alright good people, here's the deal!

Our next contest begins tomorrow!

Our contest in plainspeak and quickiexplained: phase 1 is about "who can write the best script in a given genre and theme" while phase 2 is about "who can actually shoot the best film based on that winning script from phase 1". Everyone votes everywhere. At the end we put all films and scripts together (as well as behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and other extras) inside a well-made DVD, and we try to sell it. Profits will be split amongst everyone, larger shares to the winners.

Now the details:

PHASE 1

Phase 1 of the show is a writing contest. All KarmaCritters are welcome, and its free to become a KarmaCritter. You may submit as many scripts as you want, provided they meet the following criteria:

Genre must be HORROR-COMEDY (gotta be scary, gotta be funny)
Theme must be "Practice Makes Perfect".
Lenght must be 7 to 13 pages (not counting cover).
Finished script must be submitted to KC before Christmas day 2007.

Points number 1 and 2 are at my discretion, points 3 and 4 are pretty objective.

Now, the following is not mandatory, but just friendly advice: keep in mind you're writing potentially for a short film with a 250 dollar production budget cap. Let this knowledge help you drive your choices regarding setting, number of actors, FXs, etc.

The winning script is announced on Christmas day, and becomes the cornerstone of phase 2.
All 10 finalists must record 3-minute interviews (Questionarie will be provided, background is green-screen).

PHASE 2

Once again, everyone is welcome to submit an entry. The requirements:

Must be based on the script that wins phase 1.
Must be produced with no more than 250 dollars (not including film equipment; keep your receipts!)
Must be between 7 and 13 minutes long.
Finished film must be submitted to KC before March 1st 2008
Must include 7 to 13 minutes of Behind-The-Scenes footage

Once again, points 1 and 2 are subjective to my discretion (I reserve the right to request copies of your receipts if a dispute ensues), while 3, 4 and 5 are pretty objective.

The winning film is announced on March 1st!
All 10 finalists must record 3-minute interviews too (see phase 1).

NOTES ON BOTH PHASES

To submit, simply upload your PDF script as usual, but write in the description that this is an entry for the contest, I'll take care of the rest.
As with SUBLIM, as soon as an entry is submitted it becomes eligible for votes; so the early birds do have an advantage (Ex. a script submitted on the bleeding edge of the deadline on Dec 24 technically is eligible, but will it have enough time to gather votes and become a finalist?)
The finalists are the top 10 entries with the most votes AND an average score of 70 or better. Each phase has its own 10 finalists.
All finalists will be featured in the DVD and share in profits from it (more details below).
Copyright over their own work always remains the property of the contestant who submits it, but KC will have the right to compile and sell this work in a DVD, for which you'll receive a percentage of the profits. Portions of your work may also be used in promotional materials.

DISTRIBUTION AND PROFIT SHARING

We dont yet know who will replicate the DVDs and at what cost, but we know how the unitary price breaks down:
Unitary Price = Replication Cost + Distribution Cost + Profit. In other words, when we sell a DVD, first we substract what it costed to copy the DVD, then what it costed to distribute it, and the rest is our Profit. Said Profit is split as follows:
- 10% to Eric Bumpus for Production work (which includes dealing with replicator, distributor, creating DVD menus, editing, titling of interviews, subtitles, etc).
- 10% to the winner of Phase 1.
- 40% to the winner of Phase 2.
- 1% to each of the 9 non-winning finalists of Phase 1
- 3% to each of the 9 non-winning finalists of Phase 2
- 4% for publicity and promotion of future contests
Profit shares will be sent by Eric in the frequency that makes the most sense. This will be determined once replication and distribution details are known. Most likely we'll use PayPal.

TITLE AND IMAGERY

Working on both as we speak!! Go vote!

Any questions? Please ask away, lets hammer out anything that's pending with the info that is known!

Tomorrow monday.... We Begin Writing!! Remember: Horror-Comedy with the theme "Practice Makes Perfect"! Best of luck everyone! Stay tuned for a contest page SUBLIM style tomorrow!

Horrors of War commentary track

sonnyboo — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 03:16:55 +0000

Since there wasn't room, we've made the commentary track a free download on the site. CLICK HERE to download the podcast COMMENTARY TRACK for HORRORS OF WAR, it's a 28 meg download of an MP3, so feel free & put on your Ipod or MP3 player, and cue it up with the start of the DVD and enjoy the commentary with directors Peter John Ross & John Whitney with producer Philip R. Garrett.

The review in our local paper, the Columbus Dispatch was very good! Local filmmakers rarely get reviewed or mentioned in that publication, so this is a major coup for us.

CLICK HERE TO READ DISPATCH REVIEW

Rent the movie today at BLOCKBUSTER VIDEO stores Nationwide!!!!

I Love Quotes

frightymcgee — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 04:01:11 +0000

Just wanted to share this with everyone. I found a great site that has two pages of quotes relevant to filmmaking. They show a broad scope of ideas and even some alternate opinions on those ideas.

http://www.wildsound-filmmaking-feedback-events.com/film_director_quotes.html

I think quotes are great because you can learn things from people who've been there and have experience you don't Plus you can get your own thoughts and ideas validated which is nice just to know others who are successful feel and think the way you do.

Just "Effin" Direct already

veenotph — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 04:57:47 +0000

Pardon me this.

I "Interviewed" for a short film today. To D.P.

The "director" says he is looking for more a Technical director. For example if he wanted this scene or that scene in Black and white, could I tell them how to light it.

What the hell is this guy talking about.

I work with a director, I go over the script, and give feedback, and discuss the film so that I know what the director wants in each scene, what each character is going through, how it relates to the whole film, and how to make that work visually.

It really pisses me off when I try to discuss a film with the director and they have no idea what the film is about. It is your damn film, if you can't relate to me what it is about, what are the struggles, the conflicts of the characters, the tension moments, anything but "oh I want it dark or light or Black and White", then you are not the one to be directing your film, and don't hire me because you can't give me the direction I need to make anything worthwhile.

Directing is about the characters are about being faced with choices, and then making them or not. It isn't about car chases, cool shots, sex, or effects. It is about Characters making choices. How you set that up, and how you get your actors to deliver that performance, communicating the moment to the actors, the D.P. The Sound man, the Art director, all the way to the audience - that is directing. If you can't even figure out what your movie is about, what those choices are, what those moments mean, then you are not a director, and this is not the film for you to make. Everything else is just window dressing, and makes no connection with the audience.

KarmaReels and Friend Sites

FableForge — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:57:39 +0000

Hey peoples, just a quickie:

http://www.karmacritic.com/karmareel...

Its a new section (banner entered rotation too) where I am filing together all the director's demo reels; we have five so far!! If I missed anyone's demo reel, please send me a note and I'll add it there.

I think its cool to have things like these grouped together, and those reels are amazing!

I feel lucky to have people this talented around here.

Thats it, in and out :) Have a great day kritters!

Update: I added a new block at the bottom of the right navigation bar for "Friend Sites". Its a small way to give back to those who have helped us, if I missed any site, please dont hold it against me; I have a terrible memory, -just shoot me a private message and I'll take care of it!

Okay, that's really it now :)

KarmaReels

FableForge — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:43:10 +0000

Peter John Ross - director's reel

sonnyboo — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 19:20:23 +0000

This is my director's reel. It features my action - drama - comedy stuff.

Weeeeeeee

Here Are the 50 OTL Winners

jes61356 — Tue, 15 May 2007 23:33:25 +0000

Contestants

The 50 Semifinalists as announced on the official website^[14] are:

Phil A., 40, director and writer from New York City
Shawna B., 36, assistant producer at a movie trailer house, born and raised in Los Angeles, CA
Mark B., 29, editor, director and poker-player living in Los Angeles, CA, originally from McLean, VA
Jarett B., 29, music-video and commercial director, born and raised in Northport, NY
James B., 34, freelance writer and director living in Bristol, England
Will B., 31, film editor, originally from Canyon, TX, currently living in Glendale, CA
Jessica B., 22, computer specialist, grew up in York, PA, currently living in Brooklyn, NY
Jarrett C., 24, graduate student living in Los Angeles, originally from Virginia Beach, VA
Jeremy C., 30, creative services manager for an animation distribution company, from St. Louis, MO, raised in Highland, IL
Michael C., 22, freelance commercial director from Bloomfield, MI, currently residing in Chicago, IL
Opie C., 31, creative director raised in Biloxi, MS, currently living in Jackson, MS
Karla Jean D., 25, tape operator living in Atlanta, GA, originally from Lynchburg, VA
Tamela D., 27, singer, actress and filmmaker living in Los Angeles, raised in Deer Park, NY
Jason E., 30, owner of film production company, born and raised in Winchester, KY
Matthew E., 24, director, born and raised in Los Angeles, CA
Sam F., 27, web producer, living in Santa Monica, CA, raised in Westchester, NY.
Hilary G., 37, stay-at-home wife and mom who lives in Francestown, NH, and raised in Chelmsford, MA
Kenny G., 39, director, writer, producer, born and raised in Los Angeles, CA
Phil H., 22, born and raised in Manchester, England, works as a freelance director
Andrew H., 31, promo producer from Minneapolis, MN, raised in Pittsburgh, PA
Rahim J., 25, freelance editor/director, born and raised in Los Angeles, CA
Trever J. 24, film editor, currently living in Los Angeles, CA, and raised in Great Falls, MT
Shalini K., 30, freelance director, raised in Hartford, CT, currently living in Brooklyn, NY
Mateen K., 41, teacher, currently living in Los Angeles, CA, raised in the Bronx, NY.
Gil K., 23, development associate living in New York City, raised in Verona, NJ
Claudia L., 28, painter and graphic artist, born in Bagheria, Sicily, Italy, currently lives in Miami, FL.
Zach L., 23, special effects editor from Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Kenny L., 28, freelance director and painter, born and raised in Owego, NY.
Justin L., 24, digital post-production engineer, born and raised in Orange County, CA
Dean L., 36, writer/director, living in Los Angeles, CA, originally from New York City
Brent M., 34, freelancer producer, born and raised in Dallas, TX
Mark M., 22, film editor, born and raised in Dyer, IN
Ramsey M., 34, production sound mixer living in Los Angeles, CA, raised in Denver, CO
Tamika M., 33, freelance production supervisor, living in Los Angeles, CA, originally from Miami, FL
Marty M., 26 creative director of a multimedia company, born and raised in Seattle, WA
David M., 23, admissions counselor living in Santa Ana, CA, but grew up in Aurora, CO.
Abigail S., 37, capital campaign coordinator, living in Los Angeles, originally from Toronto
Amy S., 21, freelance director living in Los Angeles
Hannah S., 23, freelance producer/director born and raised in Raleigh, NC
Hilari S., 40, independent filmmaker living in Los Angeles, CA, raised in Chicago, Atlanta and NYC
Jeff S., 30, freelance editor, living in Los Angeles, CA, originally from Toledo, OH
Jeff S., 27, filmmaker and waiter living in San Diego, CA, originally from South Lake Tahoe, CA
Kai S., 39, actress living in Los Angeles, CA, originally from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Randy S., 29, freelance director/editor from New York City
Shira-Lee S., 38, acting teacher, born in Johannesburg, South Africa, now living in New York
Adam S., 29, freelance film editor, born in Miami, FL, currently living in Los Angeles
Daniel T., 26, special events coordinator living in Los Angeles
Adam W., 24, freelance camera operator from Birmingham, AL
Mikki W., 39, filmmaker originally from Sacramento, currently living in Los Angeles, CA
Carolina Z., 36, commercial director, originally from Santander, Spain, currently living in Los Angeles, CA

Although the show in its early publicity described itself as a worldwide contest to discover new talent aged 13 and above^[15], 40 out of the 50 declared contestants already work professionally in the film industry; the oldest being 41 years old, the youngest 21, and 48 out of the 50 currently reside in the United States -21 in Los Angeles, CA.

Notably, although Canada contributed one full third of all submissions^[16], only 3 Canadians made it to the top 50; and 2 of them were already living in the United States at the time.