www.myspace.com/chicagoskateboardproject

Check out my business venture to give kids free skateboards.

and come buy some bake goods tomorrow!

Hearts

-nick

www.nicknummerdor.com

APRIL 23, 2008 - VIVA DOC EVENT

Hello Everyone,

We're going to have a fun day here on the fourth floor NEXT WEDNESDAY 2-6PM

We're going to kick off the event with DOXITA, a traveling festival of short documentaries from around the world. Films from the Netherlands, Sweden, UK and more. Check out the flier at the Doc Center.

Then, after some FREE FOOD, we're going to host a screening of our very own Michael Caplan's feature length documentary A MAGICAL VISION. Here's a short synopsis.

A Magical Vision spotlights Eugene Burger, a philosopher and guru of the magical arts. Eugene has spent twenty-five years speaking to magicians, academics, and the public about the experience of magic. Advocating a return to magic’s shamanistic traditions, Eugene’s “magic tricks” seek to evoke awe and transcendence.

And keep in touch, there will be more screenings and events to come. We're trying to build a community of filmmakers from Chicago and around the world. Come and be a part of it all. Or just eat and ditch.

the doc center crew.

internship at Kartemquin Films

Hey blog readers,

Throughout my tenure at columbia's doc program I was constantly interested in being involved with an internship at Kartemquin films. They are the makers of Hoop Dreams recently rated the best documentary of all time by Documentary magazine. I applied twice over 2 different years and even had what I thought was a great interview and didnt get in. I even had a former interns reference and another pro filmmakers name in my references. Last fall I decided I would try once again to secure a position for the spring and after an interview where I stumbled over my own thoughts and was caught off guard with questions about stem cell research I thought, well- at least I tried. A few weeks passed and I got the email saying that had accepted my application with out any references. 

I've been interning for 16 hours every week on thursday and friday at Kartemquins apartment building located off Damon and Diversey. I have to say it has been a very rewarding experience. There have been a few days were I was transcribing footage for the whole day but I knew that would come along with the internship. In the process of being there since January I have met and have great casual and professional conversations with directors, editors, producers, sound experts, tech guys who are all a room away for whatever questions I have. I do a lot of mailing, research for film festivals, production of dvd content, making phone calls to other directors and pretty much all the not so pretty things that go into filmmaking but are much so much a part of the business. 

Don't kid yourselves, filmmaking is hard, nearly impossible to do by yourself and by doing these tasks and research really helps the filmmakers and it has helped me think about how much office work comes along with putting together a film. 

On fridays all the interns get together for kartemquin workshops or meet and greets where we get hands on lessons from the pros, everything from fundraising, to licensing, to lighting and sound, and distribution. On the meet and greet days we meet with the staff and discuss, well, how they became the filmmakers that they are- what does it take to make it in the documentary world? 

This is short and I might be rambling but I think Kartemquin is a great place to apply if you can afford to give away 20 hours a week and before you know it your brain will be full of new ideas, fresh perspectives, and some really great contacts. 

www.kartemquin.com

http://kartemquin.com/about/internships

yep

-n

Look for this new ad coming to the halls of the Film Building! We thought that it spoke well to who we are. Hopefully it will help garner more participants.

Peace,
Sarah

Alumni Award Winners

Here is some great news from our fearless leaders, Courtney and Suree

Audiences at the Sedona International Film Festival and the Big Muddy Film Festival recognized Standing Silent Nation as the Best Documentary. Courtney Hermann and Suree Towfighnia were in Sedona to receive the award on behalf of the film. Over 200 people came to the screenings (3 festivals screenings and a home screening). The discussions were lively and many people rallied to bring the film to other audiences. National Association of Film and Digital Media arts awarded a 2007 Insight Award for Excellence to Director, Suree Towfighnia and Producer Courtney Hermann.

Global Green Indigenous Film Festival
Santa Fe, New Mexico
April 18-20, 2008
http://www.ntec.org/filmfestival.htm


Indie Spirit Film Festival
Colorado Springs, CO
April 26, 2008
www.indiespiritfilmfestival.org

SPRING BREAK CHICAGO

Yeah, Spring Break

I got some exercise outside yesterday when I shoveled the driveway. Four inches of snow on the first day of spring. I love this town.

Lots of stuff going on though. Almost all of the equipment went out on Friday. The doc center was a mad house. Lots of cool projects going on too. Stuff about family, money, health, art, heartbreak, racism, people, places, things... stuff we would love to get comments about. Please let us know about your project.

I know some people were looking for crew, feel free to use the comments on this thread to recruit people. If you are reading this and don't have anything to do, leave a comment and tell us what days you are available. (leave an email address)

If you are in town, the IFP office has put together Doc-U-Mania - March 29-30 and April 5-6 - 8th floor. The passes are expensive for general admission but Columbia students get a great discount and there is a possibility of Viva Doc people to get in for free if they work a little. Please let us know if you are interested in this opportunity. There are going to be a lot of great doc filmmakers there. I'll post details in the comment section of this post.

I know some of you are going out of town too. We had equipment go out to San Francisco, New Orleans, Belize and Wisconsin this week, I hope you can find time to write us a postcard about what you are up to.

Doc Center - Suite 407
1104 S. Wabash Ave.
Chicago, IL 60605 1996

Also, if you happen across this blog and you aren't from Chicago, We'd love to get a postcard from you too.

Anyway, stay safe. Stay out of trouble and make sure you get some great stories to tell when you get back from break.

- Mario

Portfolio Center Announcement

Reel Impressions | March 19

This Wednesday, March 19 at 4:30PM come get tips about assembling a reel, building a website, and designing materials such as a DVD cover, press kit or business card. During this session we’ll show you examples of good film packages and discuss ways for your work to make a reel good impression. Open to all students. Location: Portfolio Center, 623 S. Wabash, room 307




DVD Cover Design at Design Daze| March 31 & April 4

What’s Design Daze you ask? It’s a chance for juniors, seniors, recent grads & grad students to spend 45 minutes with a graphic designer who will create a DVD cover for your film or reel. You can’t beat the price (it's free, printing not included) and professional quality is guaranteed. Your work is worth it!



To participate Monday, March 30 or Friday, April 4 you MUST RSVP by March 24. Call 312-344-7280 to RSVP. All RSVPs will be asked to submit additional information about their project in order to participate.



Last Design Daze of the semester:

Monday, May 5 and Friday, May 9 – Register by April 28





JUST ANNOUCED! Shoot-A-Spot Call for Filmmakers! Deadline May 2

We’re looking for student producers, directors, cinematographers, editors and all other crew positions to shoot three commercials. The Portfolio Center, Art & Design and Marketing Communication departments held a competition (Get Your Spot Shot) giving opportunity to advertising art and copywriting students to submit their best commercial ideas. Three concepts will be chosen and we’d like to enlist YOU (well, maybe you but definitely production students) to shoot the projects in June. For details and application visit www.colum.edu/spotshot and check out the “Info for Filmmakers” section.



Don’t forget about Short Cuts, your chance to bring in your footage and meet with an editor who can cut a professional reel for you; for FREE. This service is open to film & video, television, and broadcast journalism senior-level students, graduate students and recent graduates ready to assemble their final reels. By appointment only. Contact Keesha Johnson, Production Manager, at kajohnson@colum.edu or 312-344-8624 for details.





Also, did you know that the Portfolio Center offers a free web publishing service for seniors, grad students and recent grads to get their work online? Visit www.colum.edu/portfolio and click the “Portfolio Web” link for details

See what's up with portfolios at www.colum.edu/portfolio