Slackers 2011

The Texas Independent Film Network (TIFN) and VAD are pleased announce SLACKER
2011 as the next film in its Spring 2012 program. In 1991, Richard Linklater’s SLACKER
inspired a generation of American filmmakers by exploring the subculture of Austin,
Texas in a loose narrative with a tapestry of quirky characters. Twenty years later,
SLACKER 2011 is a modern remake of Linklater’s original and the diverse individuals that
continue to “Keep Austin Weird.”

Directed by 24 Texas filmmakers, SLACKER 2011 is a stream-of-consciousness chronicle of a day in Austin, presenting the city-dwellers, dragworms, proto-hipsters and locations that give the city its modern identity. The film showcases a transformed town next to things that never change. SLACKER 2011 is an homage to twenty years of independent filmmaking, presenting the city’s changing face and showcasing some of its most exciting talent. Matthew Odam of The Austin-American Statesman, calls SLACKER 2011, “A beautiful work of jazz, with each segment representing an instrumental solo.”

During the month of February, SLACKER 2011 will be featured in more than a dozen venues across the state of Texas. In Dallas we will also be presenting Slackers Dallas Style by local filmmakers Ryan Hartsell, Christian Vasquez, Chris Hansen and Carolyn Macartney.  Read the review of Ryan’s film from VideoFest 24 here.

At The Texas Theatre, presented by Video Association of Dallas
February 11th – 9:20 pm

11th Annual 24 Hour Video Race Dates Set!

WHAT IS THE 24-HOUR VIDEO RACE?

 

The 24 Hour Video Race is a fun filmmaking competition in which teams of video makers have 24 hours to write, shoot, edit and score an original short film.

The 2012 24-Hour Video Race will begin at the Angelika Film Center in Dallas/Mockingbird Station Friday on May 4th at 11:59 with a theme, prop, location and line of dialogue assignment for the film. The race concludes 24 hours later with a sprint to the finish line back at the Angelika Film Center in Dallas. Teams will hand in an H.264 QuickTime file on a USB flash drive that we will provide.

All of the films that make it by the 12-midnight deadline will be screened at the Angelica and compete for awards and bragging rights. The winning videos will also be screened at the 25thVideoFest in September, on KERA Channel 13’s Frame of Mind, and on You+Media Dallas.

 

Who Can Race?

Accountant by day, aspiring filmmaker by night? Highly paid professional in the film industry, bored with having to repress your creativity on client jobs? Want to try out a new technique and see how it plays for an audience? Always wanted to make a film but never had the time or budget? This is the competition for you!

Anyone with a camera and nerve can enter. Media makers from elementary-school kids to professional filmmakers can compete in this event.

Student teams compete against other student teams, but adult teams are categorized by team size rather than skill level, since most teams have a mix of professionals, novices and everything in-between.

Requires only 24 hours, creativity, motivation, easy-to-come-by equipment and a small fee that enables the Video Association of Dallas, a non-profit organization, to make this event happen.

 

Team Categories & Fees:

The 2012 24-Hour Video Race is limited to 100 teams. Teams are not registered until paid in full. You are strongly encouraged to field the size of team. Registration available via the website

Pixelvision Division: K-High School: no limit on size

$75/team + $5/team member. Team captains must be 18 years of age or older, or adult mentor must register and supervise team. Team captain is responsible for providing VAD with written evidence that each participant under 18 has obtained the prior written consent of a parent or legal guardian to participate in the 24 Hour Video Race. Check website for appropriate forms.

 

Futurevision Division: College; no limit on size 

$75/team + $5/team member

 

Auteur Division: 1 or 2 members

$50/team member

 

Guerilla Division: 3-5 members

$150/team + $5/team member

 

Hollywood Division: 6 or more members

$200/team + $5/team member

Coming Soon to the Angelika

The new Silence Your Cell Phone PSA by the VF24 Silence the Opera Singer Winner, Joe Brown

Message from Mike Morris

I’m excited to say that I have a bit of news related to my work. While I haven’t finished a new single channel video/film in a little while, I have been experimenting with performance and installation over the last year, and there are a few opportunities to see what I’ve been working on in the near future.

In a few weeks, I will have an exhibition of new 16mm loops, audio installations, and alternative process images at Oliver Francis Gallery, a new alternative space in Dallas, TX. Much of this work continues to pursue thoughts explored in my videos “Confessors”and “Kyrie.” Those of you interested in the less savory bits of Dallas history will find a lot to think about in this work. The opening is on February 11th. For some of these works, I’ve enlisted help from Rebecca Mir and John Romero at Anchor City Printing, so many thanks to both of you!

There are a few performances coming up of an in-progress multi-channel performance called First Hermeneutic, what I imagine to be the first in a series of works exploring hermeneutics from a cinematic/technological perspective:

February 18th at Oliver Francis Gallery in Dallas, TX (also performing will be Andrew Blanton).
Date TBA (April) at The LAB in San Francisco, CA

If anyone is in California in the coming weeks, Kyrie will be showing at Black Hole Cinematheque to celebrate the occasion of Galileo’s birthday. My friend Eric Stewart has gotten involved in some of the activities at Black Hole in Oakland, and it seems that they are doing some very interesting things there (free film workshops, screenings, etc).

If anyone happens to find themselves in Carbondale next month, my 2010 film “Confessors” will be playing at the 34th Big Muddy Film Festival on February 24th.

And for my Chicago friends, I will be in town in late May to install a show at Adds Donna, a space in the Garfield Park neighborhood. I’ll be showing alongside the ingenious Adam Farcus and Allison Trumbo, fellow residents at ACRE this past summer. I look forward to seeing some of you there and around town!

I have plenty of other projects in the work, and when there are opportunities to see some of this work, I will be sure to keep you informed. Thanks for your interest in my work, and I hope to see each of you in the near future!

6th Annual Texas Black Film Festival

6^th Annual Texas Black Film Festival

FEB 1st – 4th

Wednesday – Saturday

STUDIO MOVIE GRILL- Dallas

(Royal Lane & Central)

With

ROBERT TOWNSEND & LYNN WHITFIELD

Also, Saturday Q&A with S. EPATHA MERKERSON

Celebrating The Power of Cinema, the 6th Texas Black Film Festival returns to STUDIO MOVIE GRILL DALLAS next week, February 1st through 4th. Premiering independent films from around the world, TBFF celebrates a rich culture through the art of film, workshops and filmmaker Q&A panels. Throughout the festival, TBFF will premiere over 50 independent shorts, documentaries, features and animations from around the world.

Wednesday February 1st at 6pm, actress Lynn Whitfield appears for the Red Carpet Premiere of the film “Kiss & Tell (Black Romance in Film)” by Darryl Pitts. A thought-provoking look at the history of African-American romance on screen. Narrated by Sheryl Lee Ralph, with commentary by Nia Long, Lynn Whitfield, Jasmine Guy, Diahann Carroll, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Tyler Perry and Roger Ebert among others.

Thursday February 2nd at 8pm, TBFF features the classic “Paris Blues” starring Sidney Poitier, Diahann Carroll, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward (1961) licensed through Swank Motion Pictures for MGM/ UA. The story of two jazz musicians living in Paris where racism is a non-issue. When they meet and fall in love with two American girls, they must decide whether they should move back to America with them, or stay in Paris for the freedom Paris allows them.

Friday February 3rd at 8pm, Hollywood icon Robert Townsend premieres his film, “In The Hive.” Based on an actual school in North Carolina’s Bertie County, a story of the power of love and a gripping reminder that we can all make a difference in a child’s life. Townsend will also conduct a filmmaker’s workshop Friday at Noon, providing a unique opportunity for Dallas filmmakers to interact with a legendary producer, writer, director and actor.

Saturday February 4th at 6pm, TBFF features the premiere of “The Contradictions of Fair Hope,” by S. Epatha Merkerson (narrated by Whoopi Goldberg). Set in rural Alabama, the film traces the development, struggles and gradual loss of tradition of one of the last remaining benevolent societies in America, known as ‘The Fair Hope Benevolent Society.’ S. Epatha Merkerson will be on hand for an insightful Q&A.

TBFF also features the Texas, U.S. and World premieres of inspiring, funny and insightful short films, documentaries and features from Texas and from around the world. Youth screenings, edgy short films and historical documentaries complete the program.

Taking place at the Studio Movie Grill – Dallas, located at the corner of Royal Lane and Central Expressway, all screenings and events are only $8.

For tickets, the complete schedule and film listings go to http://www.TEXASBLACKFILMFESTIVAL.com.

ROBERT TOWNSEND AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW FRIDAY FEB 3 (10AM)

LYNN WHITFIELD AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW WEDNESDAY FEB 1 (1:30 PM)

FOR MORE INFORMATION

CALL 214-752-7797 OR EMAIL info@texasblackfilmfestival.com

A Declaration of Interdependence

VAD is very please to unveil our personal version of the film “A Declaration of Interdependence” from acclaimed filmmaker Tiffany Shlain, who was also the VF 24 Metta Media Award Winner.

A Declaration of Interdependence is part of a larger project “Let it Ripple: Mobile Films for Global Change.” We will keep you posted on this evolving project and ways to be involved.

A Statement from Pro8mm regarding Kodak filing Chapter 11

While Kodak has announced that they have filed for bankruptcy, we want all our clients to know that this DOES NOT impact us as a company going forward. Please read the following statement by Pro8mm President, Phil Vigeant. Will Kodak’s Filing of Chapter 11 have an effect on Super 8 film? A personal statement from Phil Vigeant. 

 

Kodak states, “We are entering a new phase that will support our transformation into a stronger company. Today and going forward, we will continue to manufacture and supply customers with motion picture products.”  http://www.kodaktransforms.com/

Oscar Documentary Nominations Announced

Documentary (Feature)

• “Hell and Back Again”
Danfung Dennis and Mike Lerner

http://hellandbackagain.com – some theaters I imagine it will be
booked more places now

http://www.danfungdennis.com

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/01/24/documentary-edited-by-temple-student-receives-oscar-nomination/

“If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front”
Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman

http://www.ifatreefallsfilm.com
http://www.pbs.org/pov/ifatreefalls/ aired on POV, on DVD

Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory”
Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky

http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/paradise-lost-3-purgatory/index.html
showing on HBO

• “Pina”
Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel

currently in limited theatrical release in 3D (it opened Fri in San Francisco)

http://www.wim-wenders.com/movies/movies_spec/pina/pina.htm

http://www.pina-film.de/en/

• “Undefeated”
TJ Martin, Dan Lindsay and Richard Middlemas

http://weinsteinco.com/sites/undefeated/ will get theatrical releaae

Documentary (Short Subject)

• “The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement”
Robin Fryday and Gail Dolgin

http://barberofbirmingham.com

• “God Is the Bigger Elvis”
Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson

will be on HBO

• “Incident in New Baghdad”
James Spione

http://www.incidentinnewbaghdad.com

• “Saving Face”
Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy

http://www.savingfacefilm.com

http://nakededgefilms.com

This article says it will be released in the US March 8

http://tribune.com.pk/story/326455/sharmeen-obaid-chinoys-documentary-lands-coveted-oscar-nomination/

• “The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom”
Lucy Walker and Kira Carstensen

Screening now at Sundance

http://www.thetsunamiandthecherryblossom.com
______

Bart’s Recomendations for the Thin Line Festival

The Thin Line Film Festival in Denton has announced it’s schedule and there are some of the highlights. One of my favs from this year’s VideoFest, “The Other F Word,” was fun and insightful and not to be missed. Another film I really love is “Battle for Brooklyn.” We had a works in progress screening of it here in Dallas.  It’s about the new arena in Jersey and the community that fought it. It is a story as old as progress, but the characters are really wonderful, and the filmmakers had great access and insight. I don’t know much about the rest of the schedule, but this it is defiantly worth a trip to Denton to see some good docs.

 

Update on VideoFest 24 Alumni

Here are some updates on our 2011 narrative filmmakers, courtesy of our wonderful Narrative Curator, Daniel Laabs. Kyle Henry’s follow up to “Fourplay: San Francisco,” “Fourplay: Tampa” is premiering at Sundance! He currently has a kickstarter going on for the feature length compilation of the “Fourplay” films. The project was also chosen for Filmmaker Magazine’s curated Kickstarter page. Dustin Guy Defa’s follow-up to “Bad Fever” is a short film, “Family Nightmare” which is also premiering at Sundance. Evan Roberts’ “33 Teeth”is playing Slamdance. Celia Rowlson Hall‘s “Prom Night” is currently a featured selection on vimeo and it is practically viral.  Dallas International Film Festival  has a new page  profiling short films from previous Festivals, check out Dallas VideoFest alumnus, David Lowery’s “A CATALOG OF ANTICIPATIONS“.

In DVF documentary news, Mimi Chakarova’s award-winning film  THE PRICE OF SEX, was recently featured on CNN World to highlight the 2012 Human Trafficking Awareness Day.