film & video monthly $3.00 - Independent Magazine

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1990 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $3.00TH

EINDEPENDENT

CHINA WA T C HT A I W AN’S NEW CINEMA

B E IJIN G ’ S A FTER M A TH

A PUBLICATION OF THE ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND FILMMAKERS

CONTENTS

FEATURES24 Taiwan’s Social Realism: New Cinema Weathers Commercial Pressures and

Fickle Audiencesby Vivian Huang

28 China’s Day of Shame: How Independents Responded to the Beijing Massacreby Patricia Thomson

5 MEDIA CLIPSOverstepping the Bounds of Propriety: Film Offends Langston Hughes Estateby Catherine SaalfieldNEA Balks at the P-Wordby Patricia ThomsonDiscovery Program Inititiates Outreachby Barbara OsbornSequels

12 FIELD REPORTAmateur Auteurs on the International Circuitby Toni Treadway

18 IN FOCUSWhat the Manual Didn’t Tell You: Off-Line Editing and Constructing an Edit Listby Rick Feist

22 BOOK REVIEWThe Colonized Eye: Rethinking the Grierson Legendreviewed by Ray Navarro

35 FESTIVALSKiwiland Kino: The Auckland and Wellington Film Festivalsby Rob EdelmanIn Brief

42 IN AND OUT OF PRODUCTIONby Renee Tajima

46 CLASSIFIEDS 48 NOTICES51 PROGRAM NOTES

by Katherine Bowser

52 MEMORANDA

5

28

35COVER: A couple of corporate workers size up their company’s new owners in Edward Yang’s feature film Taipei Story. Yang’s films, like those of Hou Hsiou- hsien and other younger Taiwanese directors, have brought contemporary social issues to Taiwan’s screens for the first time. In “Taiwan’s Social Realism” Vivian Huang discusses what conditions allowed the New Cinema movement to emerge in the early 1980s and examines how it has been affected by commercial and political forces. In “China’s Day of Shame” Patricia Thomson reports on how independent producers have responded to the June 4 massacre in Beijing and the Chinese overseas democracy movement. Photo courtesy Museum of Modern Art.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1990

MARCH 1990 FILM & V ID EO M O N TH LYT

HE INDEPENDENT

IN THIS ISSUE:

Hollywood's History in Film Stills European Media Map

CONTENTS

3

19

22COVER: The engine that ran Hollywood's dream machine—technology and economic imperatives —was thoroughly documented by the film studios' photographers. Film historian Jan- Christopher Horak discusses how such photographs, together with other primary source material like film company papers and publicity materials, are now being used by historians to examine the mythology of Hollywood. Photo courtesy Internationa! Museum of Photography, George Eastman House.

FEATURES22 Hollywood Film Stills/Historical Documents

by Jan-Christopher Horak25 In Pursuit of the Past: Film Detective Bengt von zur Muhlen’s

Guide to the World’s Film Archivesby Karen Rosenberg

27 What’s in an Acronym? Deciphering New European Media Initiativesby Mark Nash

30 Target: Distribution—The EFDO Programby Tessa Horan

3 MEDIA CLIPSRadical Politics and an Art of Quality: Emile de Antonio, 1919-1989by Jay MurphyReregulation Looms for Cable Industryby Andrew BlauOhio Independents Reap Benefits of State Program Fairby Renee TajimaMAC Attack: Hard Times for Groups in Chicago and Portland

The Empire State Strikes Back

Sequels

10 FIELD REPORTSInspired Purpose and Exhibition Practices: A Review of the Show the Right Thing Conferenceby Valerie SoeGermany in Autumn: Mannheim International Film Week and the European Media Arts Festival in Osnabru ckby Karen Rosenberg

15 LEGAL BRIEFNo Way Out: The IRS Holds Firm on Accounting Requirements for Film/Videomakersby Martha Gever

17 IN FOCUSWhat the Manual Didn’t Tell You: Dissolves, Wipes, and Keysby Rick Feist

19 TALKING HEADSTwenty Years on Ice: Michael Roemer Discusses The Plot Against Harryby Rob Edelman


36 FESTIVALSby Kathryn Bowser

38 CLASSIFIEDS 40 NOTICES 44 MEMORANDA

Summary of the Minutes of the ATVF/FIVF Board of Directors Meeting

MARCH 1990

APRIL 1990 F IL M & VIDEO MONTHLY $3.00TH

E

INDEPENDENT

DESKTOP

VIDEO

A Guide to PC-Base

d Computer Editing Systems

A PUBLICATION OF TUB ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND FILMMAKERS

CONTENTS

12

21

26COVER: Just as personal computers have catapulted the field of publishing into a new era, so too are they revolutionizing video editing. Desktop video, which brings all the advantages and capabilities of high quality computer-based editing systems to the

personal computer, will be a ubiquitous and affordable tool for independent producers and editors within the next several years. In this issue, Ten Robinson scons the field in "Machine Montage," looking at the various systems currently available and the future direction of desktop video editing. Photo courtesy AT&T.

FEATURES26 Machine Montage: A Report on Desktop Video Editing Systems

by Teri Robinson

2 LETTERS 4 MEDIA CLIPS

Monster Movie Tests Actors’ Union Rules: SAG Low-Low Budget Contract in Negotiationby Lisa R. RhodesSF Pubcaster Pursues Joint News Venture with Commercial TVby Laura FraserWhen Is an Ad Not an Ad? When It’s Underwritingby Wayne FriedmanNew Jersey Media Artists Showcased on State Networkby Walter BlakelyDeeper Cuts in Massachusetts Arts Fundingby Patricia ThomsonNew Distributor Embraces the Avant Gardeby May LyleSequels

12 FIELD REPORTSNot Just Luxury Resorts: Travel Films and the Ecological Impact of Tourismby Emily EmersonProduct Placement Pros and Consby Janice Drickey

The Simulated Society: Four Installations at the AFI Video Festivalby Bill HorriganDebut of Japanese Documentary Festby Gordon Hitchens

21 TALKING HEADSDouble Vision: Teamwork on Eyes on the Prize IIby Renee Tajima

24 IN FOCUSStacked Bullets and Divine Wind: The Sound Design of Romeroby Lucy Karhi




PROGRAM NOTESby Mary Jane Skalski

APRIL 1990

MAY 1990 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $3.001H

EINDEPENDENT

C inem atic Chem istry Working w ith Actors

At the Edge of DisorderT h e C ase fo r Im p u re C in e v ideo

CONTENTS

9

22

24COVER: for mony independent directors, die actor s art is shrouded in mystery, and die language and styles of acting remiain unfamiliar, And yet, "Actors are the most important clement during production; if the acting doesn't work, nothing else will," testifies one director in "Body 'Language " by Mcnohlo Dargis. Acting techniques vary, raring from the naturalistic approach favored by director liz re Borden for her feature Bom in Flames to a broader style that stops jus! short of comp, as tarry Maxwell adopted for the role of the scientist in Todd Haynes' new film Poison (cover photo). The origins of the various acting technigues are and how directors pick and choose styles appropriate to their subjects are among die topics discussed. Photo: Russell Fine.

FEATURES24 For an Impure Cinevideo

by Ernest Larsen28 Body/Language: Acting Styles, the Rehearsal Process,

and Performance Politicsby Manohla Dargis

3 MEDIA CLIPSFashions in Funding: British Independent Producers’ Organization Phased Outby Patricia ThomsonToronto Film Groups Consolidateby Kelly AndersonArts Suffer Cuts by Boro Bosses

Strike at Stock Footage Archiveby Richard ThompsonJack Smith: 1932-1989by Michael MoonSequels

9 FIELD REPORTSMedia in the Present Tense: Highlights from the 1990 Berlin Video Festivalby Martha GeverThe Filmmakers’ Choice: Black Directors Lauded at the US Film Festivalby Peter Broderick

16 LEGAL BRIEFCalling the Shots: Contractual Agreements between Producers and Directorsby Marc Jacobson

18 IN FOCUSWhat the Manual Didn’t Tell You—Pandora’s Boxes I: Digital Videoby Rick Feist

20 BOOK REVIEWCulture, Inc.: The Corporate Takeover of Public Expressionreviewed by Nancy Graham

22 TALKING HEADSNorthern Lights, Camera, Action: A Profile of Alaskan Production Company Affinity filmsby Janice Drickey




AIVF Lobbies against NEA Content Restrictions

PROGRAM NOTESby Barbara Abrash

MAY 1990

june 1990 film & video monthly $3.00th

e

INDEPENDENT

Backlash HitsTwo Independent Hits


CONTENTS

12

22

26COVER: Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing and Michael Moore's Roger and Me have both enjoyed wide exposure and remendous popular interest. But after playing to enthusiastic crowds, both films and filmmakers were subjected to a wave of sharp critical attacks. In 'The Perils of Popularity" Renee Tajima looks at what lies behind this backlash. Also featured in this issue are Robert Seigel's report on video presales. "Trading in Futures: The Prospects for Video Presales in the Nineties," and Alison Butler's analysis of the impact of changes in the funding patterns of the UK's Channel 4. Photo courtesy Universal City Studios

FEATURES26 Trading in Futures: The Prospects for Video Presales in the

Ninetiesby Robert L. Seigel

29 The Perils of Popularity: Do the Right Thing and Roger and Meby Renee Tajima

32 The End of an Era: Britain’s Independent Workshops Endangered by New Funding Prioritiesby Alison Butler

2 LETTERS4 MEDIA CLIPS

Love’s Labor Lost? A Dispute over the Representation of Workers on the Air Wavesby Debreh J. GilbertVideo Publishing via Public TVby Renee TajimaChild’s Play Taken Seriouslyby Thelma AdamsBF/VF Plans for Long-Term Survivalby May LyleWriters’ Refuge in Bostonby Sandra JaffeThe Right’s Stuff

Sequels

12 FIELD REPORTSDismything Objectivity: Buffalo's Video Festival of New Journalismby Richard Thompson

Open Air Market: Independent Distributors Display Their Wares on NewViewby Patricia Thomson

19 IN FOCUSWhat the Manual Didn’t Tell You—Pandora’s Boxes II: Digital Video Effectsby Rick Feist

22 TALKING HEADSTaking Advantage of an Economy of Means: An Interview with Lee Murrayby Jeff Siegel




JUNE 1990

july 1990 film & video monthly $3.00th

e independent

Screen Presence

Women A r tis ts /F em inst Histories

CONTENTS

10

22

26COVER: Bette Davis in the Samuel Goldwyn production of The Little Foxes (1941). Jane Gaines and Charlotte Herzog's new book Fabrications: Costume and the Female Body explores Hollywood's construction of the image of Woman through costumes and other material means. This month's issue of The Independent reviews this and four other publications dealing with film and sexual politics. Courtesy Museum of Modem Arts/Film Stills Archive.

FEATURES22 Get Real: Charlotte Zwerin’s Documentary Directions

by Larry Loewinger26 No Faking: New Feminist Works on Spectator ship, Pleasure,

and the Female Bodyby Celeste Fraser


The Greening of the Blue Grass State: New Fund Established for Kentucky Independentsby Michelle Valladares

The Duke Does an About Faceby Janice DrickeyEmbargo on US Propaganda Films Endsby Thelma AdamsBill Sherwood: 1952-1990by Daniel HaugheySequels

10 FIELD REPORTSSubject to Change: Program of Works by Women of Color Challenges the Status Quoby Helen LeeThe Independent Television Service: A Blueprint

16 BOOK REVIEWSThe Films of Yvonne Rainerreviewed by Manohla DargisHard Core: Power, Pleasure, and the “Frenzy of the Visible”reviewed by Jill Medvedow and Richard Kazis




JULY 1990

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 1990 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $ 3 .00TH

EINDEPENDENT

An American Odyssey

Raul Ruiz Launches The Golden Boat

A PUBLICATION OF THE ASSCTIATION O F IN DEPENDENT VIDEO AND FILMMAKERS

CONTENTS

12

33

38COVER: Raul Ruiz—"the most known unknowr filmmaker in the world"—directs an actor in his first US-made production, The Golden Boat, due for release in early fall.Peter Bowen's feature story, "On Golden Boat," looks at Ruiz' production techniques, financing, and aesthetic concerns in this film, which attracted such New Yorkers as artists Vito Acconci and Annie Sprinkle, writer Kathy Acker, directors jim Jarmusch and Barbet Schroeder, and actor Michael Kirby to the cast. Photo: S. Tobias

30 On Golden Boat: Raul Ruiz Films in New Yorkby Peter Bowen

33 Film Scores for a Songby Jennine Lanouette

38 Amiga, Friend of the Animatorby Teri Robinson


Million Dollar Movies: CPB Underwrites Three Independent Documentariesby Michelle ValladaresITVS: From Ideas to Actionby Susan IversSuper 8 Processing Scorecardby Toni TreadwayCable Franchise Fracas in Manhattanby Kelly AndersonNYSCA’s Seven Percent Solutionby Lucinda FurlongSequels

12 FIELD REPORTSFrom Bottle Village to the Finster Phenomenon: Media on “Outsider” Art and Artistsby Holly MetzHard Sell: US Independents at the Berlin Film Festivalby Martha Gever

A Festival Within the Festivalby Mark NashNAMAC Playback: Media Centers and National Arts Politicsby Patricia ThomsonNew England Network: Mixed Signals Champions the Unconventionalby Karen Rosenberg

24 TALKING HEADSA Man for All Seasons: David Davis’ Career in Public Televisionby Alison McMahan

28 LEGAL BRIEFSEmployee or Independent Contractor? A Question of Benefits and Taxesby Robert L. Seigel


52 CLASSIFIEDS 54 NOTICES 56 PROGRAM NOTES

A Survey of Health Insurance Plans for Individualsby Mary Jane Skalski

60 MEMORANDA

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 1990

OCTOBER 1990FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $3.00

THE INDEPENDENT

Dispatches from the Second WorldCzechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, the Soviet Union

CONTENTS

14

30

38COVER: Banned for almost two decades,The Ear (1970), by Czech director Karel Kachyna, is now playing to packed houses in Prague. Alongside Eastern Europe's political upheavals, enormous cultural changes are also underway. This issue of The Independent looks at recent developments in Eastern European cinemc and video, with feature articles on banned films from Poland and East Germany that are now in distribution, changes within Czechoslovakia's film institutions, a noted Hungarian video artist, and a tour by 15 US documentary filmmakers of the USSR. Photo courtesy Public Theater.

FEATURES30 Spring Takes Time: Films from East Germany and Poland

by Karen Rosenberg35 Prophet Without Honor: Computer Video Artist Tamas Waliczky

by Shalom Gorewitz36 If It’s Tuesday, It Must Be Alma-Ata

by Ralph Arlyck38 After the Velvet Revolution: A Tour of Czechoslovakian Film

Institutionsby Mark Nash


The Incredible Shrinking Fund: The CPB Program Fund’s Open Solicitationby Pat Aufderheide and Patricia ThomsonA SUN Is Bomby Catherine SaalfieldMatchmaker for Pacific Projectsby Abraham FerrerBeverly A. Conrad: 1936-1990

Sequels

14 FIELD REPORTSSpotlight on Haiti: 1990 Images Caraibes Festivalby Karen KramerStill Number One? The Cannes International Film Festival and Marketby Barbara Scharres

20 LEGAL BRIEFSWhen Fair Is Foul: Fair Use and Copyrightby Sheldon Siporin

25 BOOK REVIEWFootage 89: North American Film and Video Sourcesreviewed by Jan-Christopher Horak

27 IN FOCUSThe Time Machine: A Filmmaker’s Guide to Time Codeby Larry Loewinger


44 FESTIVALS 47 CLASSIFIEDS 49 NOTICES51 PROGRAM NOTES

by Kathryn Bowser

52 MEMORANDA

OCTOBER 1990

NOVEMBER 1990 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $3 a1H

EINDEPENDENT

Home EconomiesSELLING VIDEO CASSETTES

CONTENTS

4

10

28COVER: As the business of home video distribution matures, producers get a more realistic view of what they can expect. This is particularly true for works that don't fit into traditional genres, like This Is Not an AIDS Advertisement, by British producer Isaac Julien, included in the Video Data Bank and V/Tape's Video Against AIDS three-cassette packcge. In "Micro Markets: How Independents Sell Home Video Cassettes," Debra Franco assesses the effectiveness of direct mail, catalogue listings, display advertising, on-air offers, and other means independents have used to market then work to VCR owners.Photo courtesy Video Data Bank.

FEATURES28 Micro Markets: Fine-Tuning Home Video Sales

by Debra Franco

4 MEDIA CLIPSThe X Effect: Distributors Challenge MPAA Ratingsby Tessa HoranMoore’s Munificenceby Mary Jane SkalskiMid-Career Grants Initiated by Jerome Foundationby Renee TajimaEd Emshwiller: 1925-1990by Marita SturkenSequels

10 FIELD REPORTSNABET 15 No More: The Rise and Fall of the East Coast Localby Larry LoewingerNew Kid on the Block: Community TV Comes to Philadelphiaby Renee TajimaForeign Accents: The 1990 San Francisco International Film Festivalby Vivian Huang

18 TALKING HEADSAn Eclectic Eye: Peter Scarlet and the San Francisco International Film Festivalby Janice Drickey

21 IN FOCUSWhat the Manual Didn’t Tell You: Behind the Title—Graphics Iby Rick Feist

24 BOOK REVIEWSQuestions of Third Cinema and Blackfram es: Critical Perspectives on Black Independent Cinemareviewed by Martin Blythe




Minutes of the ATVF/FIVF Board of Directors Meeting

NOVEMBER 1990

DECEMBER 1990 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $ 3 .001H

E INDEPENDENT

Film, Family, FeminismSu Friedrich Talks about Sink or Swim

also in this issue

Brian Winston on HDTV

A PUBLlATION OF THE ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND FILMMAKERS"

C O N T E N T S

13

19■ ...

22COVER: Female strength is on display in "Temptation,'' one of 26 stones in So Friedrich's feature film Sink or Swtrn. in this segment, a 13-year-old narrator recounts Greek myth of Atalanta. Rejected by her father, who wanted a son, Atalanta was raised in the forest and became a great athlete, only to be later tricked into marriage. Through this and other stories in Sink or Swim, Fredrick examines father- daughter relations. And in an interview with Scott MacDonald the filmmaker talks about film family, and feminism. Photo courtesy Drift Distribution

FEATURES22 HDTV in Hollywood: Lights, Camera, Inaction

by Brian Winston28 Daddy Dearest: Su Friedrich Talks about Filmmaking, Family, and

Feminismby Scott MacDonald

4 MEDIA CLIPSSex, Laws, and Videotape: Manhattan Cable Cracks Down on Public Access Programby Peter BowenDuke Opens Documentary Centerby Celeste FraserDo the Write Thingby Barbara OsbornRoy Resigns from Asia Societyby Renee TajimaArt Bust at Art parkby Elizabeth LicataMilestone Distribution Sets Up ShopClare O'Shea

13 FIELD REPORTBlack Film in Vogue! Again? African-Americans and Media Culture: A Re-Examinationby Thomas Harris

16 IN FOCUSComputer Editing Priced for Penny-Pinchers: Mark Abbate’s OnTrack Systemby Toni Treadway

19 TALKING HEADSPositive Propaganda: Jean Carlomusto and Gregg Bordowitz on AIDS Mediaby Catherine Saalfield



Salaam Bombay: The 1990 International Festival of Documentary and Short Filmsby Kathryn Bowser

44 MEMORANDA

DECEMBER 1990

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1991 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $3 .00TH

E INDEPENDENTDOUBLE

TAKE O N V I D E O I N B R A Z I L

Self-Representationby the Kayapo

_S ã o P a o l o ' sA s a in t - G a r d e G r o u p s

Don't lust for money!


C O N T E N T S

23

30

42COVER: In Brazil, the Kayapo people use modern technology to preserve their culture and communicate amongst themselves and with the outside world.

H e re , chief Rop ni taperecords a message to another village, reprimanding them for allowing gold

prospectors on their land. In this issue, onthropologist Terence Turner discusses hi work with die Kayapo and their approoch to video. Also featured is Bralilian critic Arlindo Machado's review on the work of two avant-garde video collecties in Sao Paolo Photo courtesy Granada Television Ltd.

FEATURES30 Inside Out and Upside Down: Two Brazilian Video Groups—TVDO

and Olhar Eletronicoby Arlindo Machado

34 Visual Media, Cultural Politics, and Anthropological Practice: Recent Uses of Film and Video Among the Kayapo of Brazilby Terence Turner

4 MEDIA CLIPSMAD Money: NEA Announces New Media Fundby Patricia ThomsonSun Shines on Florida Independentsby Renee TajimaIndependent Series in Limbo as PTV Revampsby Andrew Blau

KERA’s Open Door Policyby Andrea BoardmanI TVS to Issue First RFP

San Francisco Commission: Boon or Bureaucracy?

William T. Kirby: 1911-1990by Joyce Bolinger

Sequels

14 FIELD REPORTSShort Subjects/Social Impact: The Direct Effect Public Service Announcementsby Bill Horrigan

Breathless: A Beginner’s Guide to the 1990 Independent Feature Marketby Amy Beer

The Big Picture: The 1990 World Wide Video Festivalby Christopher Hoover

23 TALKING HEADSAn Epic oi an Epoch: Ken Burns Discusses The Civil War by Rob EdelmanCivil Skirmishes: Mark Kitchell on Berkeley in the Sixtiesby Janice Drickey

42 IN FOCUSWhat the Manual Didn’t Tell You: Graphics II—Video Paintingby Rick Feist and Mechtild Schmidt

46 LEGAL BRIEFSNow a Word about Our Sponsor: A Guide to Fiscal Sponsorship Agreementsby Robert L. Seigel



57 CLASSIFIEDS58 NOTICES60 MEMORANDA


MARCH 1991 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $300TH

E INDEPENDENTThe Birth of Philosophy and Comedy in Plato's Cave

T h e P r e - h i s t o r i e s o f C i n e m a


CONTENTS

12

16

20COVER: In this issue, Plato's Cave and other forerunners of cinema are given their due by artist T. Zummer. In addition, Karen Rosenberg describe: the many pre-

twentieth-century optical devices that are alive and well and being put to use by today's filmmakers in "Moving Picture Machines: Flip Books, Phenakistoscopes, Zoetropes, and Other Optical Inventions." Finally, Debreh Gilbert highlights Bill Brand's contemporary zoetrope located in a Brooklyn subway tunnel in her article "Not Just Another Underground Film." Drawing by T. Zummer.

FEATURES16 The Prehistory of Cinema

by T. Zummer20 Moving Picture Machines: Flip Books, Phenakistascopes,

Zoetropes, and Other Optical Inventionsby Karen Rosenberg

22 Not Just Another Underground Filmby Debreh Gilbert


Wheel of Misfortune: Media Centers Suffer from NEA Reallocationsby Patricia ThomsonSouth Africa Now Almost Axedby Vivian HuangBuckeye Bucks: Wexner Center Awardsby Clare O'Shea

Vito Russo: 1946-1990by Rob EpsteinSequels

12 FIELD REPORTInsights from Iran: Postrevolutionary Films on Viewby Persheng Vaziri

26 FESTIVALS 29 CLASSIFIEDS 33 NOTICES 36 IN MEMORIUM

Raymond Navarro Rememberedby Gregg Bordowitz, Jean Carlomusto, John Greyson, Lillian Jimenez, Catherine Lord, Ellen Spiro

40 MEMORANDALawrence Sapadin: A Decade at the Helm

MARCH 1991

APRIL 1991 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $3 .00TH

EINDEPENDENT

BACK IN THE ESAThe Travels of Robert Kramer

A lso: M a rlon R iggs'Reflections o f a S N A P ! Q ueen

CONTENTS

4

17

32COVER: During the decade between 19 6 5 and 19 7 5 , Robert Kramer produced numerous feature films showing the New Left movement from within, such as Ice, a political fiction of urban insurrection. Soon after, Kramer left the US, finally settling in Paris. In this issue, the filmmaker talks about his most recent work, Route One/ USA, and his return to the US after 13 years. Still from Ice courtesy Museum of Modem Art Film Stills Archive.

FEATURES26 Back in the USA: An Interview with Expatriate Filmmaker

Robert Kramerby Roy Lekus

32 Black Macho Revisited: Reflections of a SNAP! Queenby Marlon Riggs

4 MEDIA CLIPSOperation Dissidence: Access Producers Activate the G ulf Crisis T V Projectby Dominic FacciniDistributors Join Forces in New Associationby Isabelle FredaPBS Video Distribs Play Monopolyby Barbara OsbornGloom Looms over Sundanceby Clare O'SheaTwo Theatrical Divisions Open Shop

Sequels

14 FIELD REPORTSHomo Promo: The Lookout Lesbian and Gay Video Festivalby Thomas HarrisWhat’s Wrong with Multiculturalism? Shooting the System Conference in Torontoby Renee TajimaStock in Trade: Selling Footage to Broadcastersby Susan Gilbert

20 TALKING HEADSScene Change: Playwright David Henry Hwang Moves into Filmby Patricia Thomson

22 IN FOCUSWhat the Manual Didn’t Tell You: Audio for Videoby Rick Feist




An AIVF/CPB Exchange

48 MEMORANDA

APRIL 1991

MAY 1991 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $300TH

E INDEPENDENT

Camcorders, Community & Activist interventionsAlso: Hi-8 Highlights

CONTENTS

13

25

28COVER: An activist protests the Cathoik Church's position on condom use and reproductive rights at a "die-in" at Saint Patricks Ca thedral in New York City, documented by the camcorder-wielding

Damned Interfering Video Activist Television (DIVA TV) crew. Photo from Like a Prayer, 1991.

FEATURES20 The Ethics of Community Media

by Frances Negrón-Muntaner

22 What to Wear on Your Video Activist Outing (Because the Whole World Is Watching): A Camcordist’s Manifestoby Ellen Spiro

25 Hi-8 — High Powered, Low Pricedby Larry Loewinger

4 MEDIA CLIPSState Funding Fiasco: NY’s Cuomo Singles Out Arts for 56 Percent Cutby Quynh ThaiNBC Nixes Freelance Footage from Iraqby Patricia ThomsonBye-Bye American Pieby Scott Barrett

NY IATSE Woos Low-Budget Producers

Leo Hurwitz: 1909-1991by Tod LippySequels

13 FIELD REPORTSClose Encuentro of a First Kind:The Cruzando Fronteras Conferenceby Rosa Linda Fregoso

17 IN FOCUSStrike Up the Band: Live Musicians at Affordable Pricesby Michael Sahl

28 TALKING HEADSBetween Irony and Empathy:Peter Rose’s New Video Installationby Regula Pickel




FIVF Distribution Booksby Kathryn Bowser

42 MEMORANDAMinutes of the ATVF/FIVF Board of Directors Meeting

MAY 1991

JUNE 1991 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $3.00TH

EINDEPENDENT

Artists’ Inroads into the Cable IndustryHBO, the Discovery Channel, MTV, Bravo, and the Learning Channel

Fred Johnson on the B B C ’s Public Access Program Unit


CONTENTS

12

22

24COVER: Ir Georga Griffin's animated logo far the Comedy Channel, a snoozing pooch's tail flips the TV to the C omedy Channel, instantly transforming Ms environment from a humdrum living room to a wild tropical forest with a Caribbean beat, Independent animators like Griffin, as well as documentary and feature film and videomaker's, have found opportunities to produce work through such major cable networks as MTV, HBO, and the Discovery Channel. Larry Jatree's "Plugged In Producers" in this issue provides a guide to the cable networks, Also featured is an inside look at the BBC's public access programming unit. Drawing Courtesy George Griffin.

24 Plugged In Producers: A Guide to Working with Cable Networksby Larry JaffeeThe Learning Channel

30 Vox Pop: The BBC’s Community Programme Unitby Fred Johnson

4 MEDIA CLIPSA Sign of the Times: The Collective for Living Cinema’s Screen Goes Darkby Renee TajimaNEA Adversaries Stung by Poisonby Patricia ThomsonPicture Imperfect for Women in TV

Finishing Fund Fuels Upby Mary Jane Skalski

Thousands Vie for ITVS Mini-Millionsby Tod LippyMiller Brewing Toasts African American Filmmakersby Spencer Moon

New Distributor Launched in L.A.

Sequels

12 FIELD REPORTSOrdinary People? A Debate on Blood in the Face and Documentary Methodsbyjennine Lanouette

Preserving Yiddish Cinema: The National Center for Jewish Film at Brandeisby Karen Rosenberg

19 LEGAL BRIEFDirty Dancing: Lewitsky versus the National Endowment for the Artsby Sheldon Siporin

22 TALKING HEADSExtremes in Everyday Life: Jeanne Finley on Jesus Sightings, Matricide, Museums, and Other Topicsby Janice Drickey




JUNE 1991

JULY 1991 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $3.00TH

E INDEPENDENT

Read All About ItRoger Corman's Cheap Thrills New World Asian Visions Women at the Keyhole

and other books on media


CONTENTS

13

18

20COVER: Beverly Garland and Beulah from It Conquered the World, one of Roger Corman's early cheapster movies and part of the director's ongoing critique of Science. Corman's autobiography How I Made a Hundred Movies in Hollywood and Never Lost a Dime is reviewed in this special book issue, together with recent publications on women's cinema, Hollywood and the Vietnam W ar, Asian Canadian media, television culture, and feminism and avant-garde media.

FEATURES16 Girl Watching

review of The Woman at the Keyhole: Feminism and Women's Cinem aby Patricia White

1 8 Corman Unboundreview of How I M ade a Hundred Movies in Hollywood and Never Lost a Dime by Ernest Larsen

20 Double Exposurereview of Indiscretions: Avant-Garde Film, Video, and Feminism and Logics of Television: Essays in Cultural Criticism by Bill Horrigan

22 Visions of an Asian New Worldreview of Yellow Peril: Reconsidered by Valerie Soe

23 Missing in Actionreview of From Hanoi to Hollywood: The Vietnam W ar in American Film by Rob Edelman

4 MEDIA CLIPSPictures at an Exhibition: New Film Venues in Los Angeles, Boston, and New York CityAFl's USA Independent Showcase in Los Angeles by Barbara OsbornThe Somerville, Coolidge, and Brattle Theaters in Boston by Toni Treadway

First Exposure and Cinem a Village in N e w York City by Patricia ThomsonCPB’s Multicultural Monies in the Pipelineby Quynh ThaiGay and Lesbian Fund Establishedby Mary Jane Skalski

Film Finders Plays the Data Gameby Dominic FacciniKodak Develops New Talent

Sequels

13 FIELD REPORTSBeyond Toontown: Video Art for Younger Audiencesby Dara Meyers-Kingsley

Continental Catalyst: The European Documentary Film Instituteby Karen Rosenberg

25 TALKING HEADSGeechee Girl Goes Home: Julie Dash on Daughters of the Dustby Deborah Thomas and Catherine Saalfield



31 CLASSIFIEDS 34 NOTICES36 MEMORANDA

Minutes from the ATVF/FIVF Board of Directors Meeting

JULY 1991

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 1991 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $350TH

E INDEPENDENT

Jon Jost’sUncompromising Views

a l so : The Bottom LineFunding for Media Arts Organizations


CONTENTS

20

34

44COVER: French film actress Emmanuelle Chaulet surveys Manhattan in All the Vermeers in New York, Jon Jost's new 35mm feature. In this issue, critic Manohla Dargis profiles the films and working methods of Jost, a 30-year veteran of low-budget, improvisational filmmaking. Also featured is Don Adams and Arlene Goldbard's overview of funding for media arts organizations. Photo courtesy Complex Corporation.

FEATURES34 Jon Jost’s Persistence of Vision

by Manohla Dargis37 The Bottom Line: Funding for Media Arts Organizations

by Don Adams and Arlene Goldbard


Clash of Visions, 1992: NEH Chair Dry-Docks Christopher Columbus Projectby Renee TajimaPalestinian Conflict at the ICAby Nan Levinson

COW Put Out to Pastureby Patricia White

Primetime in Independence Cityby Frances Negrón-Muntaner

Sequels

14 FIELD REPORTSOff Hollywood Boulevard: The L.A. Freewaves Video Festivalby Barbara OsbornNo Slackers Here: Independents at Work in the Lone Star Stateby Kerthy FixGetting the Global Picture: The Television Trust for the Environmentby Kevin Duggan

31 IN FOCUSWhat the Manual Didn’t Tell You: Audio Processingby Rick Feist

44 TALKING HEADSWhen Worlds Collide: Indu Krishnan on Knowing Her Placeby Michelle Yasmine Valladares



51 CLASSIFIED 53 NOTICES 56 MEMORANDA


OCTOBER, 1991 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $3.50

THE INDEPENDENT

FILM ARCHIVESA U ser's G u id e

VIDEO PRESERVATION

T h e C ru sade fo r an

En dan gered M e dium


CONTENTS

4

20

25COVER: Archival footage is a necessary component of many film and video productions, but the process of locating and using this material can seem intimidating and expensive to the uninitiated. In "Archival Survival," Rick Prelinger spells out the basic facts and procedures producers need to know to research, duplicate, license, and dear rights to archival and stock footage. Also in this issue is Deirdre Boyle's report on the state of the relatively new field of video preservation. Photo: Buster Keaton in Sherlock, Jr., courtesy Archive Films.

FEATURES20 Archival Survival: The Fundamentals of Using Film Archives

and Stock Footage Librariesby Rick Prelinger

25 Video Preservation: Insuring the Future of the Pastby Deirdre BoyleFacilities for Cleaning, Restoring, and Remastering Videotapeby Stephen Vitiello and Leanne Mella

4 MEDIA CLIPSTongue Tied: Homophobia Hamstrings PBSby Catherine SaalfieldNEA Memo Alleges Castro Connectionby Kelly Anderson

Argentine Filmmaker Fights Menem “Mafia”by Ralph ArlyckLino Brocka: 1939-1991by Marina Feleo Gonzalez

Phil Zwickler: 1955-1991by David Meieran

Michael Fleishman: 1950-1991

12 FIELD REPORTSOy Vey by the Bay: The San Francisco Jewish Film Festivalby Deborah Lefkowitz

16 LEGAL REPORTLien on Me: Film Foreclosures and Movie Labs’ Legal Rightsby Jonathan B. Altschuler

32 IN FOCUSDeja View: Restoring and Remastering Open-Reel Videotapesby David Shulman



Minutes from the AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors Meeting

OCTOBER 1991

NOVEMBER 1991 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $3.50TH

E INDEPENDENT

GERMANY LOOKS BACKRecent Films Confront a Troubled Past


CONTENTS

16

26

30COVER: Germany's iconoclastic directors are scrutinizing their history and heroes in films like Eduard Schreiber's / Was a Happy Man, one of many new documentaries examined in Karen Rosenberg's review of Deutschland cinema. Also in this issue, Claire Andrade-Watkins' review of FESPACO explores the problems and progress of African women directors. Photo courtesy filmmaker.

FEATURES22 Up Against the Wall: German Cinema Confronts

a Divided Pastby Karen RosenbergDouble Deutsch: The Leipzig and Oberhausen Film Festivals

26 A Mirage in the Desert? African Women Directors at FESPACOby Claire Andrade-Watkins


Bravo Bravo: Independents Debut on Community Cinema Pilotby Tod LippyDreamworlds and Nightmares from MTVby Catherine SaalfieldCurtains for Canadian Film Fundby M.B. Duggan

Philadelphia PhilanthropyCompletion Cacheby Patricia Spears JonesTom Smith: 1956-1991

Burleigh Wartes: 1932-1991 Sequels

12 FIELD REPORTSNo Silver Lining: States Announce Declining Arts Budgetsby Jon Burris

Pros and Cannes: The Cannes International Film Festivalby Barbara ScharresSouthern Comfort: The Southeastern Media Instituteby Betsy Newman

30 TALKING HEADSVive la Revolution: Ken McMullen’s Lessons in Historyby Barbara Osborn

34 IN AND OUT OF PRODUCTIONby Ellen Levy

36 FESTIVALSby Kathryn Bowser ■


Opportunities Knock: Coproduction Possibilities with Japan and Britainby Kathryn Bowser and Loni Ding

44 MEMORANDA

NOVEMBER 1991

DECEMBER 1991 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $3.00TH

E

INDEPENDENT

Trinh T.Minh~haCrossingCinem atic

Boundaries

I am like a piece of silk

knowing not into whose hands it will fall


CONTENTS

11

15

20COVER: Trinh T. Minh-Ha uses structures drawn from fiction, poetry, and memory to challenge the rhetoric of traditional documentary. In this issue, Laleen Jamayane and Anne Rutherford interview Trinh about the fictions at the heart of the documentary form. Photo courtesy filmmaker.

FEATURES20 Why a Fish Pond? An Interview with Trinh T. Minh-ha

by Laleen Jamayane and Anne Rutherford


Back into the Act: SAG's Limited Exhibition Agreementby Mark Townsend HarrisDoubts Plague Bay-Area Minority TV Projectby Laura Fraser

Pew Comes through for Philly’s WHYYby David HaasNational Video Resourcefulnessby Ellen LevySequels

11 FIELD REPORTSLittle Big Fest: The Locarno International Film Festivalby Lawrence Chua

15 BOOK REVIEWSA Diary of a Young Soul Rebelreviewed by Thomas HarrisCapitalism and Communication: Global Culture and the Economics of Informationreviewed by Andrew Blau

26 LEGAL BRIEFSOut on the Town: Location Agreements and Public Permitsby Robert Seigel

29 TALKGNG HEADSPregnant with Dreams: Julia Barco’s Feminist Visions from Latin Americaby Catherine Saalfield


32 CLASSIFIEDS 34 NOTICES36 OPEN LETTER

An Exercise in Gauntlet-Throwing by a Tired Old Indy Cat to All Self-Proclaimed Indy Kittens under 30 Who Will Listenby Jill Godmilow

40 MEMORANDAMinutes from the ATVF/FIVF Board of Directors Meeting

DECEMBER 1991

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1992 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $ 3 .50TH

EINDEPENDENT

Is Debt Doing in the Arts?

Also: TV News and the Gulf War—An Anniversary Assessment


CONTENTS

10

14

28COVER: Arts institutions face mounting debt and organizational dysfunction due to the hard economic realities of the Reagan/Bush era. In this issue, Nello McDaniel and George Thom survey the damage and offer advice. Also, on this first anniversary of the Gulf W ar, G lobalvision executive producer Danny Schechter takes a critical look at the media's coverage of the conflict. Cover and illustrations pp. 32 - 37: © Peter Huttinger, 1991.

FEATURES28 The Gulf War and the Death of TV News

by Danny Schechter32 The Quiet Crisis: Is Debt Doing in the Arts?

by Nello McDaniel and George Thorn


What’s on the Telly? BBC Premieres Fine Cut Documentary Seriesby Jane WilliamsInternational Documentary Down But Not Outby Ellen LevyAmerican Center Makes Waves on the Seineby Troy SelvaratnamSequels

10 FIELD REPORTSSlouching toward 1992: The Changing European Television Marketb y Jennine LanouetteNorthwestern Exposure: Portland and Seattle Find a Place in the Sunby Mary Jane SkalskiCan We Talk? Cuban Mediamakers Debate Their Futureby Tami Gold and Kelly Anderson

23 IN FOCUSWhat the Manual Didn’t Tell You: Film /Tape Image Conversionby Rick Feist




AIVF Advocacy Reportby Martha Gever


MARCH 1992 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $350T H E INDEPENDENT

The New SisterhoodA fr ican A m erican W om en D ir e c t o r s

Also: Our Bodies/Our Camcorders Notes from a Feminist: Pornographer in Moscow


CONTENTS

12

16

18COVER: Women take center stage in this special issue of The Independent Yvonne Welbon looks at African American women directors who have been largely ignored by Hollywood but are breaking professional barriers and broadening black cinem a's style and content. Elizabeth Larsen looks at video collectives working on reproductive rights campaigns, and performance artist Caroiee Schneemann reflects on sex and censorship at the Moscow Film festival. Also included are reports on API's Directing Workshop for Women, Five Feminist Minutes, and director/ cinematographer Emiko Amori. Photo: Zeinabu Irene Davis' Cycles, courtesy Women Make Movies.

FEATURES18 Calling the Shots: Black Women Directors Take the Helm

by Yvonne Welbon23 Notes from the Underground: A Feminist Pornographer in

Moscowby Caroled Schneemann

26 Our Bodies/Our Camcorders: Video and Reproductive Rightsby Elizabeth Larsen

4 MEDIA CUPSRanting and Rating: Fort Worth Gives Thumbs Down to Local Film Ratings Boardby Patricia ThomsonNo Free Dub at the National Archivesby Pat AufderheideUSIA Bias Barredby Wendy LeavensMonkey See, Monkey Doby Laurie OuelletteAirwave Robbery?by Ellen LevyAnd the Winners Are...

Sequels

12 FIELD REPORTSWomen’s Work: AFI’s Directing Workshop for Womenby Barbara OsbornShort Circuit: Canada’s Five Feminist Minutes Meets Distribution Difficultiesby Catherine Saalfield

30 TALKING HEADSA Huge Country Full of Foreigners: Emiko Omori’s Hot Summer Windsby Lucille Rhodes



MARCH 1992

APRIL 1992 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $ 3 50TH

EINDEPENDENTChannels for Change

Public Access ’ Prom ise o f Democracy


CONTENTS

6

13

30COVER: In the seventies public access promised to rejuvenate democracy in America. Twenty years later, Andrew Blau assesses the access record in "The Promise of Public Access." Also in this issue, Nathalie Magnan reports on the other Olympics— the international public access olympiad in Albertville, France. Cover illustration: © 1992 Victoria Kann.

FEATURES22 The Promise of Public Access

by Andrew Blau27 Albertville’s Other Olympics

by Nathalie Magnan


A Screen of One’s Own: Independents Get Spotlight in First Lookby Troy SelvaratnamBlack Filmmaker Foundation Goes Hollywoodby Patricia Spears JonesIf Pigs Could Fly and Ads Made You Thinkby Holly MetzPlug Pulled on OSU Media Departmentby Ellen LevyICAIC and the Cuban Movie Crisisby Kelly AndersonSequels

13 FIELD REPORTSA Fistful of Dollars: A Primer for Documentary Grantwritingby Peter MillerChinese Menu: Vancouver’s Cinema of the Pacific Rimby Berenice ReynaudLet’s Talk about Sex: New York’s Lesbian and Gay Experimental Film Festivalby Catherine Saalfield

30 IN FOCUSToast of the Town: NewTek’s Video Toasterby Barbara Osborn

32 IN AND OUT OF PRODUCTIONby Troy Selvaratnam



AIVF’s Membership Survey Resultsby Martha Gever

44 MEMORANDAMinutes from the AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors Meeting

APRIL 1992

MAY 1992 F IL M & VIDEO MONTHLY $ 3 50>TH

EINDEPENDENT

What a long, strange Trip t's Been William Greaves' Symbiopsychotaxiplams: Take One


CONTENTS

18

14

30COVER: The increased visibility of African American cinema has sparked interest in the predecessors of Spike Lee, John Singleton, Julie Dash, and company. One such veferar director is Documentation W illiam Greaves, whose 1968 feature Symbiopsycho- raxipbsm: Take One is currently receiving renewed attention. At once a

critique of cinema verite, a Cassavetian improvisation, and an Age of Aquarius time capsule Symbiopsyrhotaxipbsm is now assuming its proper place among the self-reflective film experiments of that era. In this issue, Greaves discusses the film and his unorthodox techniques as a director. Photo courtesy filmmaker.

Sunday in the Park with Bill:William Greaves’ Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take Oneby Scott MacDonald

4 MEDIA CLIPSFrohnmayer’s Fall: When Bush Comes to Shove at the NEAby Patricia ThomsonFurnace Burned by National Councilby Ellen LevyITVS Contract Dispute Settled

Cable Bill Threatens Public Accessby Laurie OuelletteSetting FilmFreeby Troy Selvaratnam

14 LEGAL BRIEFSFor the Price of a Song: Music Rights Clearanceby Robert L. Seigel

18 FIELD REPORTSShort Shrift: In Search of Short Film Venuesby Eileen WilkinsonEight Is Enough: United States Super 8 Film and Video Festivalby j . Craig Shearman

30 TALKING HEADSOrder and Obsession: Alan Berliner on the Making of Intimate Strangerby Gabriella Oldham




MAY 1992

JUNE 1992 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $ 3 50TH

EINDEPENDENT

THE CAMPAIGN FOR HI-8


CONTENTS

4

12

20COVER: Video correspondent Skip Blumberg, hi-8 camera in hand, provides an up-close look at Gov. Bill Clinton celebrating his victory in the Illinois primary for the PBS series The 90's. In this issue, James McBride looks at the format's increasing popularity and what producers are saying about its strengths and drawbacks. Photo courtesy The 90's

FEATURES20 Hi-8: Videomakers Take the Plunge

by James McBride

4 MEDIA CLIPSAll About Oscar: Documentarians Confront Academy over Nomination Processby Ellen LevySenators Stall CPB Bill, Charge Liberal Bias

Automatic Copyrights or Wrongsby Rick PrelingerShooting from the HIPby Max AlvarezOrion Classics Execs Form New Distribution Companyby Wendy LeavensQueer Media Database to Get Word Outby Catherine SaalfieldRichard Protovin: 1945-1991

12 FIELD REPORTSPow(d)er Conditions Excellent: The Sundance Film Festivalby Patricia Thomson

16 IN FOCUSWhat the Manual Didn’t Tell You: Protocol at Postproduction Studiosby Rick Feist

25 BOOKS IN BRIEFFilm and Video Financingreviewed by John DrimmerMoving the Image: Independent Asian Pacific American Media Artsreviewed by L. Somi RoyPackaging the Presidency: A History and Criticism of Presidential Campaign Advertisingreviewed by Holly MetzDoris Chase, Artist in Motion: From Painting to Sculpture to Video Artreviewed by Rob Edelman

30 TALKING HEADSRambling Martha Coolidge: From New York Independent to Hollywood Playerby Ellen Levy


37 CLASSIFIEDS39 NOTICES40 MEMORANDA

JUNE 1992

JULY 1992FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $3.50

TH

E INDEPENDENT

ONLOCATION


C O N T E N T S

5

18

25COVER: Finding the right location for a shoot is a task every producer has to face. Film commissions can blaze the trail to little-known locales, help cut costs, and make a shoot run more smoothly, contends Max Alvarez in this issue's feature story "Scenic Overlook: Working with Film Commissions." Also, Lorri Shundich offers advice on shooting in national parks. Cover dwesign: Lorri Shundich

FEATURES1 8 Scenic Overlook: Working with Film Commissions

by Max J. Alvarez23 On Location in Canyon Country

by Lorri Shundich


Hell to Pay: Damned in the USA Countersues Wildmon over Exhibition Rightsby Elizabeth LarsenTVC Traps Negativesby Ellen LevyLiving Room Festivitiesby Janice DrickeyUS-Mexico Media in the Moneyby Jenny ApostolArchives Offer Bargain on Home Video Ratesby Patricia Spears JonesWilliam Alexander: 1916-1991

Nestor Almendros: 1930-1992

Pare Lorentz: 1905-1992

Sequels

12 FIELD REPORTSOf Two Minds: Collaborations Between Filmmakers and Art Historiansby Carole Lazio

25 BOOK REVIEWSIn a Lonely Street: Film noir, Genre, Masculinityreviewed by Troy SelvaratnamClose Encounters: Film, Feminism, and Science Fictionreviewed by Miriam SaganFemmes Fatales: Feminism, Film Theory, Psychoanalysisreviewed by Ellen Levy



Minutes of the AIVF Annual Membership and Board of Directors Meetings

JULY 1992

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 1992 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $ 3 .50TH

E INDEPENDENTWho’s B eh in d

th e A tta c k on P B S ?


CONTENTS

4

14

26COVER: Public TV survived a mounding by critics from the right this spring, but the fight is far from over. In "Inside the Conservative Assault on Public Broadcasting," Josh Daniels jives an overview of the key groups leading the attack and exam ines their tactics, influence, and funders. Also in this issue, Patricia Thomson looks at how the Supreme Court's interpretation and application of the First Amendment has evolved this century, as discussed in four recent books. Cover illustration: © Peter Kuper, 1992.

FEATURES20 Uncivil Wars: The Conservative Assault on Public Broadcasting

by Josh Daniel26 From Seditious Libel to Sex: The Forging of First Amendment

Lawby Patricia Thomson

4 MEDIA CLIPSMore PBS Than Thou? WYBE Sues to Join Pennsylvania PTV Networkby Ellen LevyNo No 90’sby Wendy LeavensMinority Investment Fund Formed

NEH Doles Out for Doc Seriesby Troy SelvaratnamArtists Get Credit in the Twin Citiesby Elizabeth LarsenEstate Project Launched for Artists with AIDSby Beatrix GatesJim Pomeroy: 1945-1992by Constance PenleySequels

14 FIELD REPORTSPutting Media on the MAP: The Media Alternatives Projectby Laura U. MarksBeyond Simi Valley: ITVS and the Future of Alternative TVby DeeDee Halleck

32 LEGAL BRIEFSIt’s a Small World Market After All: US-Foreign Cofinancing Venturesby Robert L. Seigel

38 TALKING HEADSKeeping Up with the Havels: Richard Pena on the New York Film Festival and Video Sidebarby Patricia Thomson




OCTOBER 1992 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $3.50TH

EINDEPENDENT

H al Hartley’sNOT SO SIMPLE MEN


CONTENTS

14

22

28COVER: Since the completion of his first feature film three years ago, director- writer Ha! Hartley has earned an international reputation for his madcap existentialist comedies aboul suburban m alaise. With the release of Simple Men this fall, Hartley breaks into the big time while his characters once more plot haw to break out of conventional lives. Chris Cooke, W illiam Sage, and Mark Bailey (left to right) are among the actors

featured in the film. In this issue, Ellen Levy profiles the director, his working methods, and his muses. Photo courtesy Fine Line Features.

22 FEATURESHal Hartley’s Moments of Truthby Ellen Levy


No News Is Bad News: Vanderbilt Television News Archive Faces Closureby Jan-Christopher HorakHomosexuality = Pornography, Not!by Catherine SaalfieldYale Inaugurates Black Film Collectionby Troy SelvaratnamDonald Woods: 1957-1992by Colin RobinsonSequels

10 FIELD REPORTSInitiation Rites: The Philadelphia Festival of World Cinemaby Ruth and Archie Perlmutter“Nyet” and “Da”: An Insider’s Guide to Filmmaking in Russiaby Michael Brashinsky

18 IN FOCUSToys R Us: Confessions of a Video Junkie at the NAB Conventionby Barton Weiss

28 TALKING HEADSDistant Minor: The Cinema of Chen Kaigeby Berenice Reynaud




Disability 101: An Introduction to Disability Insuranceby Harvey Braunstein

OCTOBER 1992

NOVEMBER 1992 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $ 3 50TH

EINDEPENDENT

T he Other Queer C inema:What Women Want

A l s o :

PBS’s Jennifer Lawson Talks Shop


CONTENTS

14

26

30COVER: The success of recent gay- themed feature films like Swoon, Poison, and M y Own Private Idaho has thrust the newly dubbed Queer Cinema into the limelight. But what constitutes Queer Cinem a? And where are the lesbians? In this issue, Judith Halberstam looks at a recent crop of lesbian films and videos, and discusses their aesthetic directions and multiple audiences. Films like the 1980 feature Times Square (pictured), revived at the 1992 San Francisco International Lesbian & G ay Film Festival, are evidence of the forgotten images of lesbian revolt and autonomous sexuality which serve as precedents for the lesbian new w ave. Photo courtesy Frameline.

FEATURES22 An Interview with PBS’s Jenniter Lawson

by Patricia Aufderheide26 Some Like It Hot: The New Sapphic Cinema

by Judith Halberstam

4 MEDIA CLIPSMum’s the Word: Artsave Releases Report on Art Censorshipby Charles LyonsAvailable Visionariesby Jacquie JonesNVR To Go It Aloneby Cara MertesITVS Closes Generation Gapby Wendy LeavensMalcolm Arth: 1931-1992by Gordon HitchensSequels

10 FIELD REPORTSSitting on the Dock of the Bay: Screenwriting at Maine’s International Film and TV Workshopsby Bridgett M. Davis

14 IN FOCUSChips Ahoy! The Next Wave of Hi-8 Cameras and their Recording Systemsby David LeitnerLet’s Get Digital: The Emerging Communications Technologies and their Consequencesby Sanford Bingham

30 TALKING HEADSSpanky and Our Gang: Jean-Pierre Gorin’s My Crasy Lifeby Barbara Osborn

33 BOOK REVIEWSDocumentary Dilemmas: Frederick Wiseman's Titicut Folliesreviewed by Deirdre BoylePrime Time Activism : M edia Strategies for Grassroots Organizing, and Roar! The Paper Tiger Television Guide to Media Activismreviewed by Laurie OuelletteProducing, Financing, and DistributingFUm: A Comprehensive Legal and Business Guide, second editionreviewed by W . Wilder Knight II

36 FESTIVALSby Katheryn Bowser



NOVEMBER 1992

DECEMBER 1992 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $ 3 50TH

EINDEPENDENT

Foreign Sales A SPECIAL REPORTA PUBLICATION OF THE FOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND FILM

CONTENTS

12

20

25COVER: Foreign sales are becoming increasingly important to video* and filmmakers in covering bottom line costs. This month The Independent looks at ways to reach the overseas market. In the feature story, Karen Thorsen reviews the do-it-yourself method of distribution.In accompanying columns, James McBride advises readers on how to find a top-notch foreign sales agent, while Nathalie Magnon guides readers through the thriving Sunny Side of the Doc market in Marseilles and introduces Arte, the new French channel devoted entirely to cultural programming. Cover illustration by Chris Spollen.

20 FEATURESForeign Sales: Doing It Yourselfby Karen Thorsen

2 LETTERS4 MEDIA CUPS

Risky Business: PBS Links Production Funding to Video Rightsby Barbara OsbornPublisher Pitches National Access Networkby Laurie OuelletteManhattan Cable Access Newly Reconfiguredby Thandekile ShangeGermany’s FAB New Stationby Deborah LefkowitzITVS Announces Open Call Winners

12 FIELD REPORTSThe French Connection: Marseille’s Sunny Side of the Doc Marketby Nathalie MagnanEuroPanache: The New Arte Channel

Get Smart: How Foreign Sales Agents Can Work for Youby James McBride

25 TALKING HEADSNaked Truths: Hara Kazuo’s Iconoclastic Obsessionsby Laura Marks

28 COMMENTARYThe Bias Debate: Radicals Rule PBS Documentariesby David HorowitzThe Bias Debate: Public Television’s Conservative Slantby Jeff Cohen



DECEMBER 1992

JANUARY/fEBRUARY 1993 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $ 3 .50TH

EINDEENDENTINSIDE THE

CLINTON CAMPAIGN WAR ROOM

A PUBLICATION OF THE FOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND FILM

13

26

30COVER: The nerve center of the Clinton presidential campaign w as the "war room," where Clinton's quick response ream and top strategists operated, such as James Carvifle (seated) and pollster Stan Greenberg. No press was allowed in the w ar room— except for documentations D.A. Penrebaker and Chris Hege Jus. In this issue, they discuss their film-in-progress Ths War Room and the inner workings of the Clinton campaign.

Also featured in this issue: Greenpeace video coordinator Karen Hirsh offers a half-dozen case studies of environmental films and videos that have made a tangible difference for the environment.

Cover photo: 1992 David Burnett,courtesy Contact Press Images

FEATURES30 Inside the Clinton Campaign War Room with Chris Hegedus

and D.A. Pennebakerby Patricia ThomsonIndependents Lose Out on Election Coverageby Michele Shapiro

36 Do Environmental Films Help the Environment? Here Are Some That Haveby Karen Hirsh


Radice’s Last Stand: NEA Honcho Vetoes Three Grants to Gay/ Lesbian Festsby Catherine SaalfieldETC Extinguishes AIRby Wendy GreeneActivists Lobby Over Cable Act’s Enactmentby Jeannine AversaVideo Archive Preserves Minnesota Memoriesby Julie CanigliaBig Mac Names Big Cheeseby Ellen LevyChristian Blackwood: 1942-1992by Elizabeth Rich

13 FIELD REPORTSSeeing Through AIDS: Media Activists Join Forces with NYC Department of Healthby Anne RubinsteinDreaming with Eyes Open: The First Nation’s Dreamspeakers Festivalby Sally BergerGiant to the North: Toronto International Film Festival of Festivalsby Daryl Chin

24 LEGAL BRIEFSA Taxing Experience: Two Taxes New York City Producers Should Know Aboutby Susan Lee

26 BOOKS IN BRIEFHow Do I Look? Queer Film and Videoreviewed by Pamela SheperdBridge of Light: Yiddish Film between Two Worldsreviewed by Karen RosenbergWomen in Film: An International Guidereviewed by Karen Rosenberg



AJVF/FIVF Board of Directors Meeting MinutesJANUARY/FEBRUARY 1993

MARCH 1993 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $ 3 .50

THEINDEPENDENT

New Feminism, Old Porn& Avant-Garde Film

A PUBLIC A TIO N O F TH E FO U N D A TIO N FO R IN D EPEN D EN T V ID EO A N D FILM

CONTENTS

5

20

26COVER: Elaborating on a French pornographic short, Ken Jacob's experimental film XCXHXEXRXRXIXEXSX (1980) sparked heated controversy at the 38th Robert Flaherty Seminar. Laura U. Marks considers the piece and the questions it raises about art, feminism, pornography, genera! on gaps, and the gaze.Cover illustration: (c) 1993 Victoria Kann.

26 FEATURESHere’s Gazing at You: A New Spin on Old Porn Exposes Gender and Generation Gapsby Laura U. Marks


On the Outs with Oscar: Academy Postpones Decision to Eliminate Shortsby Ingalisa SchrobsdorffITVS’ Trial by Fireby Michele ShapiroMichigan Law Students Shutter Exhibition on Prostitutionby Ami WalshLabor Videos Cost West Virginia Librarian Her Jobby Charles LyonsNonprofits Grapple with NEA Compliancy Auditsby Susan WyattTwo Database Services Have Mediamakers Wiredby Jeff StimpsonStephen Harvey: 1949-1993 Sequels

20 FIELD REPORTSAustrian Odyssey: Film Meets Politics at Three European Festivalsby Karen RosenbergVienna’s First Environmental Festival

Growing Pains: The 14th Independent Feature Film Marketby James McBride

32 THE BUSINESS PAGESIt’s A Small World Market After All II: International Documentary Coproductionsby Robert L. Seigel

34 IN FOCUSSound Advice: The Power of Digital Audio Workstationsby Bill Bloom

38 TALKING HEADSSuffragette City: Christina Springer and Casi Pacillio Create Their Own Destinyby Yvonne Welbon

40 IN & OUT OF PRODUCTIONby Ellen Levy



MARCH 1993

APRIL 1993 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $ 3 .50 US $4.50 CANTH

EINDEPENDENTE y e o n K u r d is t a nA People Reclaim Their Heritage

AISO:New Information Technologies Decoded

oA PUBLIC A TIO N O F THE FO UN D A TIO N FO R IN D EPEN D EN T V ID EO A N D FILM

CONTENTS

5

24

35COVER: The Kurds in Northern Iraq have hijacked the Iraqi broaacasting system and set up independent TV networks.Combining modem technology and meager resources, Kurdish TV symbolizes social change and links audiences to their past. Here, a Kurdish cameraman videotapes the exhumation of a grave site in Sulaimaniya. In this issue, a vivid photo essay by Laura Davidson and photographer Susan Meiselas captures the exploits of guerrilla TV production. Also in this issue, Jeffrey Chester and Kathryn Montgomery explore the role of independents in the future of cutting-edge technologies. Photo: courtesy Susan Meiselas/Magnum Photos, ©1992.

24 FEATURESRising from the Ruins: Local TV Helps Define a New Kurdish Identityby Laura Davidson, with photographs by Susan MeiselasTechnology in Transition: From Video Dialtone to DBS—Where Do Independents Fit In?by Jeffrey Chester and Kathryn MontgomeryIt’s the Infrastructure...Stupid!

5 MEDIA CLIPSWashington Roundup: Congress, the Arts, and the Endowmentsby Catherine SaalfieldCongress, the FCC, and Public Television by John GallagherCoalition Blasts Self-Censorship at PBSby Barbara OsbornWhat’s in NAME’S Name?by Wendy GreeneDiscovery Channel Spotlights Independentsby Ingalisa SchrobsdorffJohn Dorr: 1944-1993by Barbara Osborne

14 TALKING HEADSPeter Friedman, documentation: Silverlake Life: The View from Here by Lorri ShundichSrinivas Krishna, writer/director: M asalaby Noah CowanNora Jacobson, documentation: Delivered Vacant by Daryl ChinAlberto Barbera, festival director, Festival Intemazionale Cinema Giovaniby Howard Feinstein

20 MONEY MATTERSIn Dire Straits: Downsized by Half, the New York State Council on the Arts Restructuresby Lucinda Furlong

35 FIELD REPORTSLondon Kills Me: The London Film Festivalby Ellin Stein •From Soup to Nuts (and Bolts): The International Documentary Congressby Karen Kramer



Minutes from the AIVF/FIVF Board of Director’s Meeting

APRIL 1993

MAY 1993 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $3.50 us $4.50 CANTH

E INDEPENDENT

Young GunsAre Crime-Minded

■

Filmmakers Shooting Blanks?

A PU BLIC A TIO N O F TH E FO U N D A TIO N FO R IN D EPEN D EN T V ID EO A N D FILM

CONTENTS

5

24

35COVER: Jimmy (Peter Greene) plays with a stolen hand gun in Nick Gomez's Laws of Gravity. According to film critic David Ehrenstein, a new generation of filmmakers has made violence the focus of their films. But while critics have repeatedly made reference to Martin Scorsese when reviewing the work of Quentin Tarantino, Abel Ferrarra, and Gomez, the link is more apparent than real, contends Ehrenstein. Also in this issue, The independent's editors travel to Utah and Benin in search of 1993's most promising films. Photo Catherine McGann, courtesy RKO Pictures.

26 FEATURESNot Ready for Crime Time?by David Ehrenstein


Sacramento Sacrilege: California Arts Council Struggles to Surviveby Barbara OsbornNative American Producers Form Allianceby Michelle Yasmine ValladaresIndies Send Reminders to Videofindersby Tony PalazzoPassin’ It On Director Files Claim against NYPDby Michele ShapiroSex Is... Not for L.A. Film Labby Janice DrickeyPolish TV Seeks Western Productby Paulita SedgewickCultural Watchdog Unleashedby Wendy Determan

14 TALKING HEADSRobert Rodriguez, director: El M ariachiby Elizabeth LarsenAng Lee, director: The W edding Banquetby Michele ShapiroGary Rhine, producer: Native A m erican Relationsby Christopher DavidsonZhang Yimou, director: The Story of Qui Juby Patricia ThomsonIRS Releasing, distributorby Jordan ElgrablyEmile Fallaux, festival director: The Rotterdam Film Festivalby Howard Feinstein

22 LEGAL BRIEFSSlicing up the Rights Pie: TV Licensing Deals for Documentariesby Robert L. Seigel

31 FIELD REPORTSBearing All at the Berlinale: The Berlin International Film Festivalby Michele ShapiroA Berlin Studio with Money and Talent to Spareby Gordon HitchensZ-Place to Be: The Sundance Film Festivalby Patricia Thomson


43 FESTIVALSby Katherine Bowser


MAY 1993

JUNE 1993 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $3.50 us $4.50 canTH

EINDEPENDENTSpotlight on

CHICAGO


CONTENTS

4

16

30COVER: This month The Independent kicks off its regional spotlight section, which will highlight independent production in various parts of the country several times a year. This issue is devoted to Chicago. To the general public, Chicago calls up images of old-style gangsters, big machine politics, blues music, and the world's first skyscrapers. To mediamakers, it's a city identified with a strong political documentary tradition, community- based video, and the development of image-processed video art. Our look at the production activity and milieu of The City That Works begins on page 16. Photo: Peter Schulwz, courtesy City of Chicago.

4 MEDIA CLIPSToo Little, Too Late? Miles and Rosenblum Defend Liberators' Accuracyby Laurie OuelletteNew Culture Network Preps for 1994 Start-upby Wendy GreeneEuro Coproduction Market Means Businessby Elizabeth RichLatin American Database Educates Educatorsby Mary Jane SkalskiColorado Conference Includes Gay Filmsby Michele ShapiroInteractive Video Games Tap Producersby Suzanne RoseIn the NewsDouglas Edwards: 1949-1993 Richard Schmiechen: 1947-1993

16 CHICAGO SPOTLIGHTGusts & Glory: Mediamakers Find a Safe Haven in the Windy Cityby Susan TellingatorTaking Politics Seriously: A Chicago Documentary Tradition by Bill StametsThe Big Picture: Independent Feature Film Production in the Windy Cityby Alyce BarryChicago Takes the Lead in Alternative Music Videosby Peter MargasakSchools of Thought: The ABCs of Local Film/Video Schoolsby Yvonne WelbonElectronic Art Pioneersby Christine TamblynChicago Resources

30 TALKING HEADSTom Weinberg, producer: From TVTV to The 90’s by Barbara ScharresJerry Blumenthal & Gordon Quinn, documentarians: Kartemquin Films by H.D. MotylDenise Zaccardi, empowering youth: Community Television Networkby Mary O'ConnellBruce Ornstein, organizing-driven video: Chicago Video Projectby Mary O'ConnellDalida Maria Benfield, mediamaker: School of the Art Instituteby Yvonne WelbonMichael Rabiger, documentarian: Columbia Collegeby Alyce BarryMindy Faber, video artist: Deliriumby Cynthia Chris

38 IN AND OUT OF PRODUCTIONby Katherine Smith


42 CLASSIFIEDS43 NOTICES 52 MEMORANDA

JUNE 1993

JULY 1993 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $3.50 US $4.50 CANTH

E

INDEPENDENT

A Bridge to AfricaFESPACO

A PUBLIC A TIO N O F TH E FO U N D A TIO N FO R IN D EPEN D EN T V ID EO A N D FILM

CONTENTS

8

18

24COVER: Cameroonian director' Jean Marie Teno's documentary Afrique Je fe Plumerais {/ Will F.'sece You, Africa), a look at how books and the written word were once used as a tool of colonial dorntnation and now help advance a people's freedom, w as one of 200 films screened at FESPACO, the Pana'rican film festival. In this issue, Cheryl Fobio- Bradford, who attended ' he festival as an official representative of the African diaspora, creates a portrait of the city, (he films, and the effort *a establish regional representation for diaspora

artists. Cover photo courtesy Film Society of Lincoln Center.

18 FEATURESOuagadougou on $4 a Day: FESPACO and the Diasporaby Cheryl Fabio-BradfordAfrican Films Face Roadblocks on Home Groundby David Turecamo


First Amendment Advocates vs. the FCC: Lawsuit Challenges New Restrictions on Cable Accessby Robert KolkerBravo for Fine Line Theatreby Dorothy RompalskeAFVA Cancels Festival, Rethinks Structureby Nicole Gonzales and Michele ShapiroQueer Picks for Top 10 Films

8 TALKING HEADSMaria Beatty and Annie Sprinkle, codirectors: The Sluts & G oddesses Video Workshopby Catherine SaalfieldLindsay Law, president, A m erican Playhouseby Howard FeinsteinMarco Muller, festival director, The Locarno International Film Festivalby Michele Shapiro

13 FIELD REPORTSNortheastern Exposure: Film Archive Exhibits New England’s Historyby Rob Edelman

16 LEGAL BRIEFSLessons in Self Defense: Distribution Contracts and Arbitration Clausesby Mark Litwak

24 IN FOCUSIndependents Are Ready for Quicktime, But Is Quicktime Ready to Roll?by Luke Matthew HonesRadio Active: Why Independents Should Consider Radio Productionby Benjamin Shapiro

32 FESTIVALSby Kathryn Bowser-


JULY 1993

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 1993 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $3. 50 us $4.50 CAN1H

EINDEPENDENTMEDIA IN

THE SCHOOLS

A PU BLIC A TIO N O F TH E FO U N D A TIO N FO R IN D EPEN D EN T V ID EO A N D FILM

CONTENTS

7

20

46COVER: As educational reform makes headway around the country, media education is following a parallel course, becoming a national movement that is changing the w ay kids view and use media. This special issue of The independent provides an overview of media education: what it is, where it is, and the different shapes it takes. Since today's kids are tomorrow's producers and audiences, this movement w ill profoundly affect the w ay the public of the future sees and relates to mainstream and independent medio. Cover illustration: Randy Enos.

7 MEDIA CLIPSMickey, Minnie, and Miramaxby Jordan ElgrablyRights & Wrongs Pleases Some, Riles Othersby Robert KolkerNJ Media Arts Institute to Open in Springby Steven HartA&E Makes History with H-TVby Michele ShapiroMichael Moore Struts His Stuff on NBCby Mary Jane SkalskiJuan Downey, 1940-1993

Sequels

16 FIELD REPORTFuturespeak: News from NAMAC ’93by Patricia Thomson

20 MEDIA EDUCATION: A SPECIAL REPORTAn Overview: Inquiring Minds Want to Know: What Is Media Literacy?by Deborah Leveranz and Kathleen TynerCurriculum: See Dick and Jane Deconstruct: The ABCs of Teaching Media Literacyby Renee HobbsLesson Plan

Portfolio Assessment: The Tape’s Great, But What Did They Learn?by Steven Goodman and Bill TallyThe Cutting Edge: The National Media Literacy Project: New Mexico Breaks Ground with Statewide Pilot Programby Kandice McDonaldResources

40 CASE STUDIESMedia Center-based Training: Appalshop; Whitesburg, Kentuckyby Robin WhiteForming a Media Arts Department: Episcopal High School; Houston, Texasby Patricia ThomsonTeaching Teachers: Appalachian State University; Boone, North Carolinaby Barbara OsbornVideo as a Second Language: Multilingual Program; Portland, Maineby Robin WhiteCritiquing Channel One: Billerica Middle Schools; Billerica, Massachusettsby Barbara Osborn

46 IN AND OUT OF PRODUCTIONby Jason Lowi





OCTOBER 1993 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $ 3 .50 us $4 .50 CAN1H

EIINDEPENDENTT h e H o n e y G a m e

Foundation Insiders Explain the Rules

Congratulations, your project gets funded

. Collect $20,000.

W h Invite Mediamakers to Film Theory Class?

Negotiating Distribution Deals

The New 3-Chip Camcorders

A PUBLICATION OF THE FO UNDATIO N FOR INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND FILM

CONTENTS

16

24

32COVER: To play the funding game, it helps to know the mind-set of potential donors. In "We Don't, We Might...Okay, We'll Fund Media," Karen Hirsch talks to insiders at private foundations about what kinds of grant proposals they favor. Also in this issue, Scott MacDonald gets inside the head of another institutional source of income for independents—universities—as he argues why it makes sense for film/ videomakers to present their work in film theory classes. Cover photo: James Townsend (c) 1993.

24 FEATURESFilm Theory 101: Visiting Filmmakers—Why Bother?by Scott MacDonald“We Don’t, WeMight...Okay, We’ll Fund Media”: Funding from the Foundations’ Perspectiveby Karen Hirsch


Out of Focus: WNET Gives Independent Focus the Heave-Hoby Barbara OsbornWhere’s the Cash? Pacific Arts Doles Out I.O.U.sby Sue MurrayShooting Gallery On Target with Diversificationby Michele ShapiroNew Euro Film Schools Woo Americansby Karen RosenbergLesbians Want Their D YK E TV by Catherine SaalfieldJohn M. Culkin: 1927-1993Sequels

16 TALKING HEADSDavid Johnson, direct or/writer: The D.R.O.P. Squadby Johnny McNairMonica Treut, documentarian: Fem ale M isbehaviorby Catherine SaalfieldArthur Dong, documentarian: Com ing Out Under Fire by Michael FoxLorie Loeb, animator: Rew ind: It Could H ave Been M eby Lynne BachledaJames Yee, executive director: Independent Television Service by Robert Anbian

32 FIELD REPORTSRiviera Rehash: Americans Seek a Presence at Cannesby Barbara ScharresBuffalo Gals: Women’s Videomaking Flourishes in Upstate New Yorkby Elizabeth Licata

40 LEGAL BRIEFSLet’s Make a Deal: The Acquisition/Distribution Agreementby Mark Litwak

42 IN FOCUSChip Shots: The New 3-ChipCamcordersby Barton Weiss



OCTOBER 1993

NOVEMBER 1993 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $3.50 US $4.50 CAN1H

EIINDEPENDENTJapan’s Media y mavericks Buck the Tide

Southern Production Heats Up

New Software forScreen writes


CONTENTS

12

26

30COVER: While most American cineastes are familiar with the masters of Japanese film—Ozu, Kurosawa, Mizoguchi, etc.—few are aware of Japan's independent film* and videomakers, such as Tsuchimoto Nortaki, director of the documentary Minamata: The Victims and Their World pictured}. In "Made in Japan," Scott

Sinkler looks at their work, their aesthetics, and the:r support structures. Also in this issue: The South is more than a back lot for Hollywood; it's home to numerous independents, who are churning out an aburdance of features, documentaries, music videos, and experimental work from southern Florida to North Carolina. Steve Dollar checks it out and discovers some connecting links. Cover photo courtesy Scott Sinkler.

20 FEATURESMade in Japan: Upholding the Japanese Independent Traditionby Scott SinklerSouthern Exposure: Mediamakers from Tallahasee to Atlanta Prefer Down- home storytelling to Hollywood Glitzby Steve Dollar

5 MEDIA CLIPSThe Big Chill: Film in the Cities’ Shutdown Bleakens Outlook for Media Arts Centersby Scott BriggsSeattle and NYC Media Centers Look to the Futureby Robert KolkerPlanet Central, X-TV Prep for Cable Debutsby Wendy GreeneBET Gambles on Pay-Per-Viewby Karen Glover

12 TALKING HEADSEllen Spiro, videomaker: Greetings from Out Hereby Bill StametsRoss McElwee, documentation: Six O’clock Newsby Michele ShapiroCineville, producersby Julia HammerWieland Speck, festival director: Panorama section, Berlin International Film Festivalby Michele ShapiroElectronic Frontier Foundation: Public Policy Advocatesby Niki Mitchell

30 FIELD REPORTSLooking Forward, Turning Back: Montage ’93: Festival of the Imageby Brian Goldfarb and Laura U. Marks

34 IN FOCUSNo More Draft Dodging: New Software Programs Help Screenwriters Master the Craftby Brian Edgar

37 LEGAL BRIEFSThe Write Stuff: Legal Protection for Screenwritersby Robert L. Seigel

42 IN AND OUT OF PRODUCTIONby Jason Lowi and Sue Murray



NOVEMBER 1993

DECEMBER 1993 FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY $3.50 us $ 4 .50 CAN

THEIINDEPENDENTA Foreign AffairBeth B. and Sara Dri\er Discuss Their Love/Hate Relationships with German Coproduction

Q&A with Monty RossSpike Lee’s Producer Takes the Director’s Chair


CONTENTS

10

20

24COVER: Sury Amis and Fred Ward star in Beth B.'s recently completed dramatic Feature, Two Small Bodies. In this issue, critic Berenice Reynaud explores the implications of foreign financing through the examples of Beth B. and Saro Driver, who looked to German and other foreign sources to fund their work. Also in this issue, Monty Ross talks about his work with Spike Lee, his move to directing, and the state of black filmmaking. Photo courtesy Beth B.

24 FEATURESMonty Ross Takes Control:Spike Lee’s Producer Turns to Directingby Lorna JohnsonGerman Coproduction:A Mixed Blessing for Sara Driver and Beth B.by Berenice Reynaud

4 MEDIA CLIPSGrowing Pains:Third World Newsreel Endures a Bumpy Transitionby Laura MarksMediamakers Applaud Alexander Appointmentby Sue MurraySequels

10 FIELD REPORTSHigh Anxiety at the Angelika:The Independent Feature Film Marketby Sue Murray and Michele ShapiroRocky Mountain Mellow:Students Convene at the Telluride Film Festivalby Nancy J. CohenThe French Connection, Part Deux:Sunny Side of the Doc and Les Etats Generaux du Documentariesby Nathalie Magnan

32 IN FOCUSOn the Right Track:Getting the Most From a Sound Studioby Jacob Burckhardt

35 BOOKS IN BRIEFby Jason Lowi



Minutes from the ATVF/FIVF Board of Directors’ Meeting

DECEMBER 1993

S p e c i a l I s s u e NEW TECHNOLOGYJA N U A RY/FEBRA RY 1994 $3 .50 USA $4 .50 CAN

THEINDEPENDENT

MONT HL Y

N e wFrontiers in Interactive MediaVIDEO ON DEMAND NONLINEAR NARRATIVE Virtual Reality AIDS Education on CD-R0MThe Internet

A Publication of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film

In This Issue

14 F eaturesA S p e c i a l R e p o r t

I Independents and Interactive Media

29

Hollywood Online

26

I n t e r a c t i v e M e d i a ________14 Write on the Money by Barbara Bliss Osborne

Writing is linear. ..isn’t it? Not if you’re creating CD-ROMs or virtual reality environments. Several mediamakers who have braved the new terrain discuss making the switch.

20 Techno Training Grounds by Barbara Bliss Osborn A look at the American Film Institute and the Banff Centre for the Arts.

22 Voyager Vision by Michele Shapiro The Independent talks with Bob Stein of the Voyager Company.

26 Intimate Interactivity: Creating Safer-SexSoftware by- Brian GoldfarbAIDS education'is making its own onto numerous inn

T h e N e t29 The Art of the Internet by Luke Matthew Hones

Everyone's talking about “the net.’’ Find out why and what’s on it for mediamakers.

32 The M B O N E ’s Connectedto the Backbone by Patricia T homsonThe Internet’s not just about text anymore. With MBONE and CU-SeeMe software,

video transmissions are possible.

T h e S u p e r h i g h w a y34 280-Million Channels and

Nothing On by Clay GordonVideo on demand is supposed to change to future of television. Clay Gordon sizes up

the current test systems — and looks at where independent productions fit in.

M e d i a N e ws5 L .A .C .E .

Go

I n f o r m a t i o n A g e Postcards’ Shoot: Som ething to WriteHom e About jby Kimberly Jean Smith

Sarajevo Film Fest M ore than a Symbolic Gesture b y B i l l S t a m e t s

Sequels

40 F estivals.. BY Kathryn Rowsfr

44 _ Cl a s si f ieds49 N oti ces64 Memoranda

COVER: As a relatively unexplored medium, interactive multimedia affords independent makers the opportunity to create new languages and structural possibilitises.T h e 3-D animated dream sequence from the virtual-reality piece Archeology o f a Mother Tongue by Ton| Dove and Michael Mackenzie (pictured) is one creative work that Barbara Bliss Osborn discusses in her feature “ Write on the Money,” which explores writing nonlinear narrative for interactive Media. Also in this issue, Luke Matthew Hones and Patricia Thomson explore the Internet and Clay Gordon delivers the low-down on interactive delivery systems.

C o ve r ph o to courtesy . To ni D o ve an d M ichael M ac K e n zie

J A N U A R Y / F E B R ARY 1994 THE INDEPENDENT

R e g i o n a l S p o t l i g h tMARCH 1994 $3 .50 US $4 .50 CAN

F I L M A N D V I D E O

THEII N D E P E N D E N T

M O N T H L Y

BAY WATCHThe San Francisco Bay Area’s

Outrageously Inspired Mediamakers

THE KQED CONNECTION 50 Years of Experimental Media


Cover Photo: Carl Wilmington,courtesy San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau

ln th is issue

A R e g i o n a l S p o t l i g h t O n12 Fo r the Heart of It B Y R o b e r t A n b i a n

The Bay Area’s media community champions diversity, social justice, and, at times, the right to be out rageously combative. A relic of sixties idealism, perhaps. But somehow the supportive environment is thriving in the nineties.

16 Playing San Francisco b y R o b e r t A n b i a n

An exhibition primer for the Bay Area.

18 The K Q ED Conundrum b y m i c h a b i f o x

Friend or foe? KQED has been both during its long and rocky relationship with the area’s independents A new station president and the Living Room Festival series may be harbingers for better times ahead.

20 50 Years of Experim ental Media b y A l b e r t K i l c h e s t yFrom The Potted Psalm to X-Factor, experimental film and video have been identified with the Bay Area, and with good reason.

24 Multiple Identities B Y C h r i s t i n e T a m b l y n Multiculturalism is personified in San Francisco, with its diverse Latino, Asian, and Black commumties, and its historic embrace of gays and lesbians. Not surprisingly, much Bay Area independent media addresses the politics of identity,

2 7 The Queen of Festivals b y s u s a n G e r h a r d

It’s the oldest and largest of queer film festivals. But age has not mellowed Frameline’s International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, which remains committed to experimental and challenging work.

30 Bay Area Festivals b y l a u r i t a n n e r

32 T a l k i n g H e a d s

Craig Baldw in, No-B udget Visionary BY c h u c k St e p h e n s John Knoop, Cinem atographer & Docum entarian b y l i s s a g i b b s

Lynne Sachs, Experim ental Film m aker BY Su s a n g e r h a r d Coleen Sm ith, Media Griot BY l i n d a g i b s o n Valerie Soe, Video Artist b y h e a t h e r m a c k e y

42 I n a n d O u t o f P r o d u c t i o n : F r o m S a n F r a n c i s c ob y M i t c h ■ A l b e r t a n d M i c h e l e S h a p i r o

4 L e t t e r s

6 M e d i a N e w s

Remains of the Day: San Fran Producers Settle Dispute withNova over C za r Footage BY s u e M u r r a y

No Short Cuts for L .A . s Fellini Theater by j u l i a R o b i n s o n S h i m i z uJackie Shearer: 1946 -19 9 3 by z e i n a b u i r e n e d a v i sSequels

47 F e s t i v a l s b y K a t h r y n B o w s e r

49 C l a s s i f i e d s 53 N o t i c e s 60 M e m o r a n d a

SA

N

FR

AN

CI

SC

O

R O X I E

M a r c h 1 9 9 4 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

INSIDE: Spain’s Valladolid International Film FestivalAPRIL 1994 $3.50 US $4.50 CAN


THEINDEPENDENT

M O N T H L Y

ASIAN AMERICAN Media:

Moving from the Margins to the maintream

Also:A road map to the Info SuperhighwayNII, NREN & Internet

A publication of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film

In This Issu e

2 3 F e a t u r e

B r e a k i n g T h r o u g h : A s i a n A m e r i c a n M e d i a H i t s It s S t r i d e B b y B e r e n i c e R e y n a u d

N I l , M R E N a n d t h e I n t e r n e t : W h e r e t h e F e d s F i t i n b y G a r y O . L a r s o n

H o t R o d s o r R o a d K ill o n t h e I n f o r m a t i o n S u p e r h i g h w a y ? 9 V i e w s f r o m t h e F i e l d

5 M e d i a N e w s

T h e Phoen i x R i s e s : F i l m i n g in N e w Y o r k C i t y o n t h e U p s w i n g b y R o b e r t V . W o l f

Life after G A T T b y r e n f r e u n e ff .

V i d e o m a k e r s F i n d H o m e s f o r P r o g r a m s ,o n L e a s e d A c c e s s N e t s BY B . J . S i g e s m u n d

P a c i f i c F i l m s S c a m ? b y H e n r y R o s e n t h n a l

F e d E x B l o c k s F i l m s F r o m E n t e r i n g J a p a n B y B a r b a r a S c h a r r e s 1 2 T a l k i n g H e a d s

F r a n c o i s G i r a r d , w r i t e r / d i r e c t o r :

Thirty-Two Short Films about Glenn Gould by Patricia Thomson

Henry S. Rosenthal No-budget producer b y D avid B arker

B e r y l K o r o t , v i d e o a r t i s t : The Cave by Patricia Thomson H e c t o r G a l a n

C h r i s t o p h e r L e o D a n i e l s & K ; B r e n t Hill, d i r e c t o r & p r o d u c e r : Victor b y Y v o n n e W e l s o n

to A r e v a l o , m e d i a e d u c a t o r : T h e M i r r o r P r o j e c b y J a s o n G r e g o r i c u s 4 0 I n F o c u s

L i f e in t h e N o n l i n e a r L a n d : A F I ’ s D i g i t a l I n d e p e n d e n c e W o r k s h o pb y K . D . D a v i s , B a r t o n W e i s s , a n d B a r b a r a H a m m e r

4 4 F i e l d R e p o r t s ,

S l e e p l e s s in E s p a n a : T h e V a l l a d o l i d I n t e r n a t i o n a l F i l m F e s t i v a l b y M i c h e l e S h a p i r o

4 7 L e g a l B r i e f s

T h e M o n e y L e n d e r s : L o a n s v s l i m i t e d P a r t n e r s h i p s b y S t e p h e n M . G o l d s t e i n

5 0 I n a n d O u t o f Pr o d u c t i o n b y m i t c h A l b e r t

5 2 F e s t i v a l s B Y k a t h r y n B o w s e r

5 4 C l a s s i f i e d s

5 8 N o t i c e s

6 4 M e m o r a n d a b y , P a m e l a c a l , v n r t

COVER: Paul Kwan returns to the Cholon temple in Vietnam to pay homage, , to his deceased father in Anatom y o f a Spring roll, an ITVS-funded project

that will receive its broadcast premiere on PBS on April 25. In this issue, critic B e r e n i c e looks at this and other works by Asian Americans, from The Jo y Lu ck Club to Totally F * * * e d U p , that have m ade their way into the mainstream in recent years.P h o to ; A rn o ld lg e r, courtesy film m a ke rs

THIS P A G E: David Henry Hwang's Broadway hit M. B u tte rfly made its way onto the silver screenjn 1993, with John Lone playing the diva/spy.C o u rte s y W a rn e r B r o s .

A P R I L 1 9 9 4 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

Sundance and Rotterdam International Film FestivalsMAY 1994 $3 .50 US $4 .50 CAN

F I L M A N D V I D E OF I L M A N D V I D E O

THEINDEPENDENT

M O N T H L Y

CAMCORDERS R usWe’ re a nation of

camcorder owners.So when will the

video revolution be televised?

PUBLIC TVat the

Crossroads


In This Issue

28

24

28 FeaturesPublic Television at the Crossroads

W hat is the mission o f public television in the 1990s and beyond? Excerpts from thecontroversial Q u a l i t y T i m e ? T h e R e p o r t o f th e T w e n t i e t h C e n t u r y F u n d T a s k F o r c e o n

P u b l i c T e l e v i s i o n are followed by comments from task force member Eli Evans and independent producer RALPH Arlyck.

Camcorders R Us By Laurie OuelletteW e ’re now 'a nation o f cam corder owners. But has the cam corder

democratized the media?

6 Media News

Violent Nights by Michele ShapiroC oalition M onitors Constitutionality o f T V 'V io len ce Legislation

MoMA Commemorates Stonewall by Kimberly J ean Smith

New N. Carolina Film School Opens by Jeremy Byman

Puttin’ on the Glitz: NYC’s Fifth Night Series by Robert Kolker

Neo-Nazi Doc Raises Ire in Germany by Julia Hammer

Latin American Fest Debates TV’s Future BY JESIKAH MARIA ROSS

1 4 Talking Heads

Lodge Kerrigan, director: Clean, Shaven by Alissa Quart

Ning Dai, video documentarian: Discussions Caused by a Film 's Film ing Being Stopped by Michele Shapiro

Hamilton Fish, festival director,The Human Rights Watch Film Festival BY B . J . SlGESMUND

18 Field Reports

Perfect Pitch: The International Film Financing Conferenceby Michael Fox

Long Shots Score Big at the Sundance Film Festivalby Patricia T homson

Not Just Another McFest:The Rotterdam International Film Festival

by Michele Shapiro

401 Festivals by Kathryn Bowser

42 Classifieds

44 Notices

56 Memoranda by Pamela Calvert

34

6

20

COVER: The proliferation of affordable camcorders has heralded a new era in communications. But where is all this camcorder footage appearing? Not on TV — unless it’s silly family pranks or vigilante video. In “ Camcorders R Us,” Laurie Ouellette looks at the peculiar packaging of camcorder footage by broadcasters in the U.S.

Public TV is also evolving as the communications landscape shifts. ‘Public TV at the Crossroads”

includes the key findings of a special task force on public TV, and assesses where independents fit in.

Cover photo: Gary Anderson

May 1 9 9 4 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

SPECIAL ISSUE: AIVF’S 20TH ANNIVERSARYJUNE 1994 $3 .50 US $4 .5 0 CAN

FILM AND VIDEOTH

EINDEPENDENTM O N T H L Y

AIVF CELEBRATES TWENTY YEARS OFINDEPENDENT MEDIA


In This Issue

A I V F C E L E B R A T E S 2 0 Y E A R S O F I N D E P E N D E N T M E D I A

12

24

30

7 - Notable QuotesC ompi le d by P at r i c i a T homson

Q uotes from the pages o f T he Independent, 1978-1994 .

1 2 - The Fab Formation by larry loewingerT h e A ssociation o f Independent Film and Videomakers (A IV F) resulted

when sixties comm unitarianism wed seventies activism, and several M anhattan-based independent media artists sought to form a community. But how did the local grassroots effort evolve into a national organization

with an office, a magazine, and some pull on Capitol Hill?

1 6 - S id e b a r : The Evolution o f a Revolutionary M agBy S ue Murray

1 9 - Where Are They Now?By Mi tch A lbert and B . J . S i gesmund

A IV F catches up with its founding board members: Ed Lynch; Robert Bordiga; M artha Coolidge; Phil M essina; Amalie Rothchild ; M arc W eiss; and

its first executive director, A lan Jacobs.

24 Tribute to Ed Emshwiller (1925-1990)By Morton S ubotni k

3 0 - Adventures in AdvocacyB y L a wr e nc e S apadi n

For many, A IV F is advocacy. T h e organization's former executive director charts its members' struggles and victories over the past two decades .

35—Field of Dreams by b . ruby richHas the independent media field come a long way, baby? O ne o f the field's

foremost critics exam ines the milieu for independents in terms o f exhibition, distribution, and funding opportunities today vs. 20 years ago.

39—Back to the Future b y r u b y l e r n e rA IV F ’s executive director looks to the year 2014 as one o f promise for inde

pendents. But can her vision becom e a reality?

4 0 - Sidebar: A Wish Lis t fo r the Tw enty-First Century

4 2 - Sum m ing Up the DecadeTw enty-tw o independent thinkers reflect on the highs, lows, and break

through media projects o f the last decade.

DEPARTMENTS4 9 - IN A N D O U T O F P R O D U C TIO N

By Mi tch A lbert

5 0 - FES T IV A LSBy Kathryn Bows e r

5 4 - C LA S S IF IE D S

5 8 - NOTIC ES

6 4 - M E M B E R A B ILIA

6 2 - M EM O R A N D ABy Pame l a C al ve rt

16

23

39

42

49

When the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF) was created 20 years ago, independent media had its roots in the political movements of the late sixties and early seventies. Since then, the success of independent features, including Jim Jarmusch's Stranger Than Paradise and Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, have paved the way for a new generation of directors. In an industry that often bucks trends, independents have created some of their own over the last tew decades: While the seventies witnessed a boom in film- and videomaking by feminists, the eighties was the decade of video. The nineties aren'l even half over, and already gay and lesbian makers have left an indelible mark on the decade.Cover photo: Ed Meredith/Chicago

June 1994 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

C a b l e A c c e s s L a u n c h e s i n t o C y b e r s p a c eJULY 1994 $3 .50 US $4 .50 CAN


THEINDEPENDENT

M O N T H L Y

The Films of

Poised between the Carnal-ana the Abstract

J A M E S H E R B E R T

publication of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film

In This Issue

267

15

36

20

26— Features

James Herbert’s Naked Truths by Ste ve d o l l a r

Cable Access Meets 21st Century Communicationsby Barbara Bliss Osborn

5— Letters 7— Media Mews

Remembering Marlon Riggs (1957-1994)by Karen Everett & Karl Bruce Knapper

American Playhouse Forms Playhouse Pictures b y j en NINE LANOUETTE

Minneapolis Launches New Access Center by Scott Briggs

1 4 — Talking Heads

Eve Luckring, multimedia artist: she can 't take a joke andClub Prophylactive by Julia Meltzer

Connie Field & Marilyn Mulford, producers/directors:F r e e d o m o n M y M i n d by M i c h a e l F o x

Minne Hong, exhibition director: Asian CineVision by V i v i a n H u a n g

Jack Lechner, assistant commissioning editor for drama: Channel Fourby M i c h a e l F o x

2 0 — The Business Pages

Mentors & Godfathers: The Offer Directors Can’t Refuseby R o b e r t L. S e i g e l

3 5 — Field Reports

Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired: Deep Dish TV on Health Careby Laurie Ouellette

Independents in L.A.: Scratching the Belly of the Beastby Jesse Lerner

A Meeting of Minds:Black Cinema, A Celebration of Pan-African Film BY JAMIKA AjALON

43— Festivals by Kathryn Bowser

4 4— Classifieds 49— Notices

56— Memoranda by Pamela Calvert

COVER: photo by James Herbert, from Cameo. For 30 years, filmmaker James Herbert has quietly and steadily created a body of work characterized by a painterly aesthetic and a wedding of the sensuous and abstract in his nude studies. As Steve Dollar writes in his portrait of the artist, Herbert, a southerner since 1962, “ has become very much part of the fabric of the Deep South.” As a filmmaker, professor, and music video director, his influence has been even more widely felt.

Also in this issue, contributing editor Barbara Bliss Osborn discusses the changing shape of public access. Some centers are already expanding the definition of public acess beyond cable TV to include access to the Internet, satellite teleconferencing, radio, and other technologies.Osborn examines who is spearheading these new communications access centers, how they will be funded, and what part they’ll play in the National Information Infrastructure.

J u l y 1 9 9 4 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

INSIDE: N a t i o n a l E d u c a t i o n a l M e d i a M a r k e tAUGUST/S SEPTEMBER 1994 $3.50, US $4.50 C A NF I L M A N D V I D E O

THEIND EPEND ENT

M O N T H L Y

F i l m S c h o o l sB E Y O NDT H E

B I G

3


S pecial section: Film Schools & Independents Contents

26 Hollywood Narrative, Difference, and Introductory Film m akingW hen students enroll in film school with visions o f Hollywood dancing in their heads, how does a teacher o f introductory film production

effectively com m unicate the value o f independent production and diverse voices?

By Patricia R. Zimmermann

Nine Film Schools Not to Be OverlookedEveryone’s heard o f the film programs at NYU, U SC , and U C LA . But many more excellent

programs are out there, as Patricia R . Zimmermann reveals.

2 L e t t e r s

7 M e d i a N e w s

First-Tim e Producer Takes On Hollywood Big Guns By Robert Kolker

Bravo Launches Independent Film Channel By Jennine Lanouette

NY Nonprofit Seeks New Venues for Shorts By Wendy Greene

Visual Communications May Relinquish Role as Fest Organ izerBy Berenice Reynaud

Art Meets Commerce at First Interactive Media FestivalBy Barbara Bliss Osborn

Media Arts Center Replaces Film in the Cities By Scott Briggs

Cologne’s Feminale Feels Heat of European RecessionBy Karen Rosenberg

1 6 T a l k i n g H e a d s

Whit Stillm an, feature film m aker: B a r c e l o n a By Michele Shapiro

Wendy Kirkup and Pat Naldi, electronic media infiltrators: S .I .S .By Laura U. Marks

Tom Noonan, director/actor: W h a t H a p p e n e d W a s By Larry Loewinger

Olivier Jahan, associate director: Directors Fortnight at CannesBy Howard Feinstein

2 2 F i e l d R e p o r t s

Tools for Schools: The National Educational Media Market By Michael Fox


Getting the Goods for M ultim edia, Part 1 : Licensing TextBy Mark Litwak

4 2 I n a n d O u t o f P r o d u c t i o n By Mitch Albert

4 4 F e s t i v a l s b y k a t h r y n b o w s e r 4 7 C l a s s i f i e d s

5 0 Notices 6 0 Memoranda By Pamela Calvert

26

7

16

36

42

COVER: Film schools are not only a site of professional training, they are bastions of him culture — and, in many cases, independent film production. In this issue, Patricia Zimmermann offers a selected survey of some of most interesting film programs across the country. In a separate essay, she offers insights into the teaching of introductory film production and the pressures brought to bear on this course. Also in this issue, Michael Fox reports on the National Educational Media Market, where many independent productions begin their path into the school and university market. Cover photo: Jason Longo.

A u g u st/S e p te m b e r 19 9 4 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

Raphael Ortiz: Digital d e s tru c tio n sO C TO BER 1994 $ 3 .5 0 U S $ 4 .5 0 CAN

FILM & VIDEOTH

EINDEPENDENTMONTHLY

HOOP DREAMSCourts Success

A publication of the Foundation for Independent Video and Filip

C on ten ts

Features

26 The Axe Man Cometh:Raphael Ortiz’s Avant-Garde Alchemy Moves into the Digital AgeBy Scott MacDonald

The Dream Team: Kartemquin Grapples with Success after Hoop Dreams Scores at SundanceBy Pat Aufderheide

Photo Daniel Christmas, courtesy Major Sports, Chicago

4 Letters

5 Media News

The Battle of the NEA BudgetBy Michele Shapiro

RO.V. Branches Out By Sue Murray

On-Line with the VineBy Julia RobinsonShimizu

Rutgers Opens Media Ed LabBy Kimberly W inston

Sequels

11 Talking Heads

Charles Burnett, director: Glass ShieldBy O.Funmilayo Makarah

Tom Davenport, producer/director: M aking Grim m MoviesBy Barbara Bliss Osborn

Mable Haddock, executive director: National Black Programming ConsortiumBy Jacquie Jones

16 In Focus

Taking Care of Business:Scheduling and Budgeting SoftwareBy Brian Edgar

Life in the Fast Lane: Silicon Graphics Speeds Ahead with Online EditingWorkstations By Luke Hones

35 Legal Briefs

Getting the Goods for Multimedia, Part 2: Licensing Images & SoftwareBy Mark Litwak

40 Festivals b y K a t h r y n B o w s e r 42 CLASSIFIEDS 46 Notices 52 Me m o r a n d a

COVER: Before Hoop Dreams won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival in January, the Kartemquin team that produced and directed the three- hour documentary had yet to master the art of the deal. Now all that's changed. Pat Aufderheide catches up with the Dream Team to discuss the theatrical release, book deal, and flctionalization of the rim-rocker doc.

Also in this issue, Scott MacDonald talks with Raphael Ortiz, whose “ Destructionist” approach to filmmaking has fueled his 30- plus year career and his avant-garde works. More recently, Ortiz has entered the digital age by using electronic technologies to “chop up” film artifacts as he once used an axe to attack and edit Cover photo courtesy John litis Associates.

October 1 9 9 4 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

ITVS “ Family Values”

DECEMBER 1994 $3 .5 0 US $4 .5 0 CANF I L M & V I D E O TH

E INDEPENDENTM O N T H L Y

N a t i v

e American

Values


C on ten ts

Features

20 Through Native EyesEssays by three N ative A m erican producers on indigenous aesthetics, the special relation o f N ative mediamakers to their tribal communities, and the media education o f N ative youth.

By Victor Masayesva, Beverly R. Singer, and Diane Reyna

28 ITVS Gets Serious AboutSeries By Michele Shapiro

28.

2 L e t t e r s

7 M e d i a N e w s

Raters o f the Lost Art: Clerks and Jason's Lyric Slapped with NC-17By Jordan Elgrably

Program m ing with an EdgeBy Jennine Lanouette

Time Warner Establishes MediaLab at NYU By Kate Bobby


Basque in the Limelight:The San Sebastian International FilmFestival By Patricia T homson

1 6 In Focus

Sound Ideas: How Music GetsWritten for Film By Richard Einhorn

3 3 B o o k s i n B r i e f By Vanessa Ira

3 4 I n & O u t o f P r o d u c t i o n

By Mitch Albert

5 2 S p e c i a l E v e n t : A I V F ' s 2 0 t h A n n i v e r s a r y C e l e b r a t i o n

8

12

52

COVER: From Arlene Bowman's Navajo Talking Picture , one of six Native productions discussed by Beverly Singer in this month’s feature section. Singer, Victor Mamayeva, Jr., and Diane Reyna comment from a Native American perspective on indigenous aesthetics, community, and youth media training.

Also in this issue, Michele Shapiro looks at ITVS’s production and marketing of its series, now beginning to come out of the gate.

Cover photo courtesy Arlene Bowman; top two photos on this page courtesy ITVS; additional photos on this page, beginning clockwise from lower left corner,: Photo: Trish Torkelson; © Latex Chipmunk Prod., courtesy Picture Start, Inc.; photo: Patricia Thomson.

37 Festivals by Ka t r i r y n Bo w s e r 40 Classifieds

43 Notices 56 Memoranda By Pamela Calvert

December 1994 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

The New York Video FestivalJANUARY/FEBRUARY 1995 $3.75 US $5.00 CAN

F I L M & V I D E OINDEPENDENT

M O N T H L Y

Semper Fi

D o c u m e n t i n g t h e $ 1 8 M i l l i o n C a m p a i g n T h a t C o u n l d n ' t


T h is p a g e w a s i n t e n t i o n a l l y le f t b la n k .

T h e t a b le o f c o n t e n t s p a g e d o e s n o t a p p e a r in t h e a r c h iv e d c o p y .

INSIDE: What Public TV Program Directors DoMARCH 1995 $ 3 .7 5 US $ 5 .0 0 CAN


th

eINDEPENDENT

M O N T H L Y

Michel Negropohie.R o s s McElwee, Jennifer Fox & Alan Berliner discuss the in sAND OUTS OF SOLO SHOOTS

O N T H E I R O W N


C ontents24 SOLO FLYERS:

Or Zen and the Art of Solo ShootsA one-person crew is the ultimate act of independence for some mediamakers.Find out how and why they do it.

B y M i t c h A l b e r t

29 The Hi8 MystiqueB y T im W r i g h t

30 In the Program Director’s ChairProducers trying to sell their work to individual public TV stations will most likely wind up dealing with the program director. Four program directors shed some light on what their jobs involve and how they interact with independents.

B y M i c h a e l F ox

F e a t u r e s

5 L e t t e r s

6 ( M e d i a N e wsTough Cookies: The View From Capitol HillB y C h r i s t o p h e r B o r r e l l i

I Want My MNTV B y S c o t t B r i g g s

At Last: An Alternative to Limited Partnerships on the CoastsB y R o b e r t L. S e i ge l

1 4 T a l k i n g H e a d sDeborah Hoffmann, docum entarian: Complaints of a Dutiful DaughterB y E ri n B l a c k w e l l

Kayo Hatta, writer/director: Picture BrideB y F a t i m a h T ob i n g R ony

Marilyn Freeman, talk show producer:American Values B y R ay K e l l e h e r

1 8 W i r e d B l u e Y o n d e rChecking in to the Bar Code HotelB y K ri s M a l d e n

See Me, Hear Me, Touch Me, Read Me:CD-R O M M agazines B y T om S a m i l j a n

Intellectual Property on theInfobahn B y L e s l e y E llen H a r r i s

A Word from Vice President Gore

3 2 F i e l d R e p o r t sScreenwriters, Unite!How to Organize a “W riters’ U nit”B y J a m e s R yan

Stormy Weather for London’s Raindance Film MarketB y M i c h e l e S h a p i r o

On the Waterfront: The Hamptons International Film FestivalB y L a u r e l B e r g e r

4 2 In and O ut of Pr o d u c t i o n s , Michele shapiro 37 Festiva ls by kathryn bowser 40 C las s i f ie d s43 N oti c e s 59 AIVF A dvocacy BY MARTHA WALLNE

60 M emoranda By Pamela Calvert

COVER: From Jupiter’s Wife, Michel Negroponte’s portrait of a homeless w om an living in Central Park. In this issue, Mitch Albert talks to Negroponte and other m ediam akers about solo shoots and w hy some choose to act as th e ir own one-person crew. Photo courtesy film maker.

March 1995 THE I NDE P E NDE NT

INSIDE S U N D A N C EAPRIL 1995 $3.75 US $5.00 CAN

F I L M A N D V I D E OTH


Mina Shum, director of Double Happiness

F I L MF E M M E S

Changingthe Ground Rulesof Feminist Cinema

C o n t e n t s28 Reel Women: Feminism and Narrative Pleasure in

New Women’s Cinema B y L a u r i e O u e l l e t t e In the seventies, feminist filmtheorists espoused a deep mistrust of Hollywood movies’ traditional narrative structure, realist aesthetics, and happy endings. Today, many women directors are freely making use of these conventions. Are they caving in to market pressures, or finding a different path, one unforeseen two decades ago?

F e a t u r e s

28

2 L e t t e r s7 M e d i a N e w s

It’s Showtime! Sundance Film Channel Gives Cable Competitors a Run for the MoneyB y M i c h e l e S h a p i r o &. I n g a l i s a S c h r o b s d o r f f

NVR Offers Discounts on Alternative VideosB y Ka t e B ob by

Canadian Network Gives Women a VoiceB y F r a n c e s H i d a l g o

10

1 5 T a l k i n g H e a dsJames Gray, writer/ director: Little OdessaB y Pa t r i c i a T h om s o n

Jem Cohen, film/video artist: Buried in LightB y S t e v e D o l l a r

Patricia Smith & Kurt Heintz, video poets: Chinese Cucum bersB y G e o r g e F i f i e l d

Lourdes Portillo, film m aker: The Devil Never SleepsB y A n d r e w T h o mp s o n

Deborah Dennison, director/producer:Blood M em oryB y R o s e m a r y Z i b a r t

2 3 W i r e d B l u e Y o n d e r

Real Estate as Art: CD -R O M Artist Nancy BuchananB y J u l i a M e l tz e r

Infobahn Greenbacks and the Invisible ArtsB y B a r b a r a O s b o r n

Video Service Bureaus of the FutureB y G e o r g e F i f i e l d

36

3 5 F i e l d R e p o r t sThere’s No Business at ShowBiz ExpoB y M i t c h A l b e r t

It’s a W rap: Sundance ’95B y Pa t r i c i a T h o m s o n

Looking for Funds in Some of the Right Places: IFFCONB y M i c h a e l F ox

4 2 I n F o c u s

How to Avoid a Noise Dive: Producing a FoolProof Audio TrackB y L uke H on es

COVER: Mina Shum , director of Double Happiness, the top prize w inner in the Berlin Film Festival’s Forum section, is am ong the new breed of wom en directors who deal with issues once associated with fem inism , but under different groundrules than those laid out by fem inist film theorists in the seventies. In this issue, Laurie Ouellette looks at the new wave of wom en's film s. Photo courtesy Fine Line.

44 F e s t i v a l s by k a y h r y n bowser 46 C l a s s i f i e d s 49 N o t i c e s58 AIVF Advocacy By M artha Wallner 60 Memoranda By Pamela Gavver

April 1995 THE I NDE P E NDE NT

Berlin & RotterdamMAY 1995 $3.75 US $5.00 CAN


THEINDEPENDENT

M O N T H L Y

H e ro ic

M e a s u r e sBraving the NEH Application Process

Good Advice fromGOOD MACHINEGOTTA PAY y o u r DUES (GETTIN’ OVER THE PA BLUES)


Contents

31 “We Don't Fund Films, We Fund Projects in the Hum anities” :Independents and the NEHThe National Endowment for the Humanities is the third largest funder of public broadcast programming, after CPB and PBS, and it far outranks its sister agency, the NEA, in direct support of media production. Yet among mediamakers, less is said and known about this federal agency.B a r b a r a A b r a SH looks at the NEH in detail, talking to program staff and applicants about the agency’s mission, its grueling application process, and what kind of media projects pass muster.

28 No Guts, No Glory: The Production AssistantIn answer to the age-old question, “How do I break into the movie production business?” there’s the age- old reply: “You pay your dues.” This often translates as doing time as a PA. Good Machine staffers ANTHONY B r e g MAN a n d M a r y J a n e S k a l s k i break down the different tasks of the PA, offer tips in landing and keeping the job, and demonstrate why this is a great place to learn the lay of the land, figure out your own job preferences, and begin to make a name for yourself.

F e a t u r e s

5 M e d i a N e wsAnother Season, Another Reason for M aking Money: Film/Video ArtsB y Ly n n e Pa l a z z i

Customized Business Reports for the Entrepeneurially ChallengedB y C h r i s t o p h e r B or e l l i

Blockbuster Offers Funds to Minneapolis MakersBy Scott Briggs

Canadian Distributor Opens US OfficeB y Pa t r i c k R e n g g e r

In Brief

1 2 T a l k i n g H e a d sDanny Schechter, director: C o u n td o w n to F re e d o mB y V e r o n i c a M i xon

Ellen Kuras, cinem atographerB y C y l e n a S i mo n d s

Michael O ’Reilly, video artistB y J er r y W hi te

Danny Lyon, film m aker & photographer: M e d ia M a nB y Pa u l R oth

Niurka Perez, video directorB y K a r e n S haw

2 0 F i e l d R e p o r t sPostcards to Am erica: The Berlin International FilmFestival B y M i c h e l e S h a p i r o

Going Dutch: The RotterdamCinem art B y B e t t e G or d o n

3 6 F u n d s & F i n a n c eTrash Those Grant Applications! A Dozen Creative Ways to Finance Your Next ProjectB y B a r b a r a B li s s O s b o r n

3 9 T h e B u s i n e s s P a g e sForeign Exchange: A Conversation with Tapestry International’s Nancy W alzogB y S u s a n H o r n i k

COVER: Rather than rob from the rich, film m aker Richard Gordon and partner Carm a Hinton have turned to the NEH for funding, receiving four grants for three of their film s on China, including their w ork- in -pro gress on the Chinese dem ocracy movem ent. Gordon here takes near the temples of Wu Tai Shan, in the Shanxi province. Courtesy Richard Gordon

20

4 2 In & O utB y M i t c h A l b e r t

37 Festi valsB y K a t h r y n B o w s e r

4 0 C lassi fi eds 43 Noti ces 43 AIVF A dvocacyB y M a r t h a W a l l n e r

56 M emorandaB y P a m e l a C a l v e r t

39

May 1995 THE I NDE P E NDE NT

Inside: Media Art in Video Stores

JUNE 1995 $3 .75 US $ 5 .0 0 CAN

F IL M A N D V ID E OTH

E:INDEPENDENTM O N T H L Y

Special Issue: Queer Media.

Me'Shell NdegéOceilo. Stolen Moments. Red Hot + Cool

A p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e F o u n d a t i o n f o r I n d e p e n d e n t V i d e o a n d F i l m

Contents

16 There ’s No Place Like Home: Media Art in Video StoresExperimental media’s inroads in the home video market are few and far between, especially relative to the hopes and hype that flourished in the early eighties.But inroads have been made. George Fifield looks at the successes to date, as well as the obstacles to distribution in video stores.

F e a t u r e s

2 L e t t e r s 6 M e d i a N e ws

Frameline Frames the FutureB y S u s a n G e r h a r d

PBS Restructures,Lawson ResignsB y J a c k R o b e r t i e l l o

A Schilling Experience:Vienna’s Film Financing FundB y C a t h y M ei l s

12 W i r e d B l u e Y o n d e rDaisy, Daisy: Christine Tam blyn’s S h e L o ve s It, S h e L o ve s I t N o tB y J u l ia M e l t z e r

Going SXSW B y N a n c y B l e s s

5 6 A I V F A d v o c a c yAIVF Mem bers UpdateB y M a r t h a W a l l n e r

On Culture and PowerB y R uby L e r n e r

The Economic Argum entB y C a m i l l e B i l lo p s

38 Festivals by kathryn Bowser 42 Classifieds

46 N o t i c e s 60 M e m o r a n d a B y Pa m l l a

6

10

S pecial Se c t i o n Queer Media

20 A ID S M e d ia in th e M a in s tre a m

By Catherine

25 B r in g in g Q u e e r Film s T h e a te r N e a r Y o u : A W ho's W h o o f D is tr ib u to r s

By Erin BlacKWeli

30 T ric k s a n d T r e a ts : P ic k s o f F o r e ig n F l i c k s !

By Howard Feinst

3 4 W ie la n d S p e c k SpeaksIn s id e B e rlin ’ s P a n o r a m a

By Gerald Pear?

36 B o o k s in B r ie f : G a y And L e s b ia n M e d ia S tu d ie s

By Mai Kiang

COVER: Part griot, part riot grrrt, *• NdegéOcello is one of the m u s i c i a n s Moments: Red Hot + Cool, the fifth CD video project of the Red Hot Organization issue. Catherine Saalfield looks at* videos on AIDS that have penetrated the television. Photo: Dana Lixentag; Organization

June 1995 THE I NDE P E NDE NT

E&O I nsurance Made Easy

JULY 1995 $ 3 .7 5 US $ 5 .0 0 CAN

F I L M & V I D E O

THEINDEPENDENT

M O N T H L Y

The Wild WestROCKY MOUNTAIN MEDIA


Contents

18 Rocky Mountain Hiby N iki H a y d e n , g u e s t e d i t o r

20 Fire on the Mountain: Experimental Film in the Rockiesby W i l l i a m L. A n n e t t

26 Call of the W ild: Environm ental, Nature, and Sports Filmsby L i s a F i n n e g a n

30 Native Tongues Untied by C a t h i e B eck

32 Sneak Peaks: The Rocky Mountain Festival Circuit34 Ready, W illing, and Cable: Opportunities in the Cable Capital

by N iki H a y d e n

35 The 90s Channel’s Challenge by N iki H a y d e n

38 One Jum pin’ Joint: The Five Points Media Centerby L i s a F i n n e g a n Cover and photo above courtesy Denver Convention & Visitors Bureau

R o c k y M o u n t a i n P r o f i l e sDoris Loeser P. 25 Luis Valdovino P. 29 Lynne M errick P. 33 Trent Harris P. 37 Beth Harrison P. 39

by Ka r e n M i t c h e l l , S he l l y S c h l e n d e r ,D a v i d M e t z l e r & C a t h i e B eck

5 L e t t e r s 7 M e d i a M e ws

Docum entarians Win 10-Year Legal Battle Against USIAby C h r i s t o p h e r B o r r e l l i

Public Servants Square Off Against Euro P-TV, Tooby C a t h y M ei ls

Intermedia Arts Has New Missionby S c o t t B r i g g s

PEG Fights for Life, But Hometown Fest Flourishesby B a r b a r a B l i s s O s b o r n

12 T h e B u s i n e s s P a g e sE&O Made Easy.- A Talk with D.R. ReiffB y R o b e r t L. S e i g e l

41 I n & O u t o f P r o d u c t i o nby M i t c h A l b e r t

43 Festivals By Kathryn B owser 46 Classifieds 49 Notices

62 A I V F Advocacy by Martha Wallner 64 Memoranda BY Pa I4E|A CALV*R1

AUGUST/SEPTEM BER 1995 $3.75 US $5.00 CAN


THEINDEPENDENT

M O N T H L Y

Living in Oblivion writer/director Tom DiCillo

So you want to be a screenwriter?

WRITING PERSONAL DOCUMENTARY

Getting into Characters Screenplay Contests


C o n t e n t s

S p e c i a l S e c t i o n : S c r e e n w r i t i n g

29 What a Character! Writing the Character-DrivenScreenplayby J a m e s R y an

32 To Oblivion & Back:Writer/Director Tom DiCilloby M i c he l e S h a p i r o

36 Pleased to Meet Me:Writing the Personal Documentaryby J an O x e n b e r g

39 The X-Files:An Experimental Script Samplerby Pa t r i c i a Z i m m e r m a n

40 Hey, You Never Know! Screenplay Contests Pay Off by J o h n n y M c N ai r

43 What’s My Line? Fifth Night at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe by Ly n n e Pa l a z z i

COVER: In this issue,

In d e p e n d e n t m anaging edi

tor M ichele Shapiro talks

with Tom DiCillo about how,

with persistence, the screen

w riter's vision can become a

sweet reality— as his has

with Living In Oblivion.

Photo: M ichele Shapiro

8 M e d i a N e w sArrested Development in Milwaukee by M ax A l v a r e z

TV News, V a rie ty Style by J u l i a M e l t z e r

Niche Video Outlets Offer African Am erican Titlesby C h r i s t o p h e r B or e l l i

12 W i r e d B l u e Y o n d e rLand of the Free? W ho B u ilt A m e r ic a ? Encounters Hurdlesby J e n n i f e r E s s e n

The Next Wave: M ultimedia Fests by t o m s a m il ja n

18 F u n d s & F i n a n c eLaws of Financing: Lodge Kerrigan and Larry Meistrich Talk Shop

24 F i e l d R e p o r t sDeep in the Heart of Hollywood:The Los Angeles Indie Film Festivalby A n d r e w O. T h o m p s o n

Beyond Chop Socky: The Hong Kong International Film Festivalby B e r e n i c e R e y n a u d

4 4 Festivals by Ka th ry n b owser 50 Classifieds 5 4 Notices 61 A I VF Advocacy by M a r t h a W a l l n e r 6 4 Memoranda by Pa m e l a C a l v e r t

OCTOBER 1995 $3.75 US $5.00 CANFILM AND VIDEOTH


W H E N

D I S T R I B U T O R Sc o m e a - c o u n t i n '

W h a t y o u n e e d

to know before signing that (TV/theatrical/home

v i d e o ) c o n t r a c t

C o n t e n t s

3 2 F e a t u r e sReadin’- ’Ritin’-Roll ’emby B e t s y N e w m a n & J os e p h M a r a

There’s an educational goldmine in sneakers.Two media educators tell how they hit ore while teaching kids how to produce a video magazine.

When Distributors Come A -C o u rtin ’by M a r c M a u ceri

Don’t just go with the first takers and let them make all the decisions.First Run Features’ Mark Mauceri reviews the questions you need to consider when assessing distribution deals and sequencing options.

7 L e t t e r s

8 M e d i a N e ws

Sale of WNYC Set to Goby J a c k R o b e r t i e l l o

W N ET’S C ity A rts Provides Outlet for Independent Fareby I n g a l i s a S c h r o b s d o r f f

W e eke nd T V Blows into WindyCity BY H .D . MOTYL

Colum bia Inaugurates Docum entary Centerby K r i s t i n W i l c h a

New Mexico Drawing Card Pulls International Talentby T ony D e l l a F l o r a

Third World Screening Daysby F r a n c e s H i d a l g o

1 5 T a l k i n g H e a d sJane Gillooly: L e o n a 's S is te rG e rr i by G e or g e F i f i e l d

George Stoney & Judith Helfand: The U p r is in g o f 1 9 3 4by G r a h a m L e g g a t

Helena Solberg: C a rm e n M ira n d a : B a n a n a s Is M y B u s in e s sby C a t h e r i n e B e n a m o u

John Colum bus: Black Maria Film & Video Festivalby V e r o n i c a M i xon

Robert W ithers: New York Expo of Short Film & Videoby D a n a H a r r i s

2 6 F i e l d R e p o r t sA Riviera Runs Through It:Cannes ’95by B a r b a r a S c h a r r e s

Oz the Great and Film able:The Scene Down Underby D e i r d r e B oyl e

4 0 B o o k s i n B r i e fFilm Editing Nutz & Boltz; Film and Video

Budgets, 2nd. ed.; Contracts for the Film & Television Industry; A Political

Companion to American Filmr e v i e w s by A l a n B e r l i n e r , P e t e r M i l l e r , R o b e r t L. S e i g e l , K r i s t i n W i l c h a

6 1 A I V F A d v o c a c yChristian Action Network stages ‘degenerate a rt’ showby A n d r e a S a c h s

4 4 I n & O u t o fP r o d u c t i o n by M i t c h A l b e r t

Cover: It's showtime, folks— but where? When? And what's the best way to sequence your release? These questions loom large for anyone with a finished work to peddle. Marc Mauceri's feature on page 36 offers pointers on how to think about the distribution sequence that's ideal for you. Cover illustration by Johanna Goodman.

4 6 F e s t i v a l s b y ka t h r y n b owser 53 C l a s s i f i e d s 58 N o t i c e s 61 A I V F A d v o c a c y 6 4 M e m o r a n d a B y P a m e l a C a l v e r t

★ R E G I O N A L I S S U E : S P O T L I G H T O N T E X A S ★NOVEM BER 1995 $3.75 US $5.00 CAN

F I L M A N D V I D E OTH

EINDEPENDENTM O N TLY

Alamo

TEXAS ROUNDUP

Robert Rodrigue R i c h a r d Linklater Eagle Pennell, Laurie McDonald & more ■

Riding the Exhibition Rangewhere to go to showT e x F e s ts D a l l a s , A u s tin , S a n A n to n io

C o n t e n t s

S P O T L IG H T ON TEXAS

ParadiseTEXAS ROUNDUP

24 W here the In die s R oam : The Texas Exhibition SceneW hether yo u ’re a native or just passin through, y o u ’ll fin d a Texas-sized netw ork o f venues.

by J o a n n e H a r r i s o n

28 No S la cke r H ere: R ich ard L in k la te r and the Austin Film SocietyT h e story o f a local boy w ho m akes good— an d doesn’t forget his roots.

by Louis B l a c k

30 Tra in in g the Y o u n g -u n s : M edia Ed Takes Root in TexasTexas is now a leader in m edia education, an d it’s thanks to grassroots efforts.

by T im C a r m a n

32 Texas’s D iverse P opulation Find s a H om e on P u b lic A ccessFrom H indi to Spanish, safer-sex demos to neo-N azi diatribes, Texas has seen it all on access.

by S am H o

T e x a s P r o f i l e sB rian H u b e rm a n (P. 34), Laurie M cD o nald (p. 36), and Eagle P ennell,Ken H a rriso n & A nd y A nd erson (P. 38)

by S am H o & M i c h a e l B e r g e r o n

T e x a s F e s t i v a l sCineFestiva l (p.40), the D allas Video Festival (P. 42), Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival (P. 44) &Lone Star State Festival C irc u it ( P. 45)by R ay S a n t i s t e b a n , M a t t Z ol l ef S ei tz & Louis B. Pa r k s

C a s e S t u d i e sThe Man with the Perfect Swing (P. 46); Pop Love (P. 48)by M i c h a e l B e r g e r o n & T im C a r m a n

In & O ut of T exas Product i on(P. 50) by M i t c h A l b e r t &A da m K nee

6 M e d i a Me w sQ u ick Fix fo r D oc P icks : W ill New O sca r Rules Affect W h a t’s N om inated?by B a r b a r a B l i s s O s b o r n

P u b lic TV Pixelates, C h e rry P icks ITVS Series by E ri n B l a c k w e l l

SAG A cco m m o d a te s L o w e st- B udget Indies by R o b e r t L. S e i ge l

1 2 F i e l d R e p o r t sThe Kids Are A lrigh t: Student FilmFestiva ls by I l e ne S. G o l d m a n

1 8 I n F o c u sW here the S id e w a lk Ends: S co u tin g the U n ch a rte d Paths of D igital Tech no lo gyby L uke H on e s

5 4 F e s t i v a l sBy Kathryn B owser

61 C l a s s i f i e d s 64 N o t i c e s

72 M e m o r a n d aBy Pamela C alvert

COVER: The Duke’s obsessive battle to make The A lam o is the subject of a docum entary by Brian Huberm an, whose body of w ork revolves around Texas’s colorful history. Photo courtesy filmmaker.

"P aradise” photo: Ave Bonar.

November 1995 THE I NDE P E NDE NT

DECEMBER 1995 $3.75 US $5.00 CAN


lira

I N D E P E N D E N T

M O N T H L Y

BEG, BORROW. OR STEAL?Tracking the Mavericks of Fair Use

JUST SAYBO NO

5 L e t t e r s

6 M e d i a N e w sNo Sex, Please: Congress and the Courts Threaten Censorship of Cable Access, Internetby D i rk K o n i n g

New Alternative Networks Hungry for Contentby I n g a l i s a S c h r o b s d o r f f

Makeover for Chicago’s Center for New TVBY H .D . M o t y l

COVER: U2's record company sued the band Negativland

(pictured with their attorney) after the group released an album with an audio remix Inside

12 T a l k i n g H e a d sMatthew Harrison R h y th m T h ie fby M i c he l e S h a p i r o

Kate Kirtz & Nell Lundy Ja n e : A n A b o rtio n S e rv ic eby D a v i d B a r k e r

Juan Mandlebaum R in g / & P itby J ul i e L e v i n s o n

Jay Ko B ro w n E ye sby T om K e ogh

Bridgett Davis N a k e d A c tsby C y l e n a S i mo n d s

Spencer Nakasako &Sokly Nya.k.a. D o n B o n u sby J e r r y W hi te

Jeffrey Thom as The S y s te mby T om K e ogh

20 F i e l d R e p o r t s : F e s t i v a l s f r o m a r o u n d t h e W o r l dInside the Charm ed Circle: IFFM Launches No Borders M iniM artby Ly n n e Pa l a z z i

IFFM Bytes: The New Technology Sidebarby Pa t r i c i a T h o m s o n

Bloc Busters: Eastern European Festivals Break Outby C a t h y M ei ls

Swiss Stakes: The Locarno International Film Festivalby B e r e n i c e R e y n a u d

Down Rio Way: B ra zil’s Rio Cine Festivalby Pa t A u f d e r h e i d e

42 I n F o c u sChecking the Meterby R o b e r t D a r d o n

44 I n & O u t o f P r o d u c t i o nby A da m K nee &M i t c h A l b e r t

47 F e s t i v a l s by k a t h r y n b o w s e r 52 C l a s s i f i e d s 55 N o t i c e s 64 M e m o r a n d a by Pa m e l a c a l v e r t

December 1995 THE I NDE P E NDE NT

JANUARY/FEBRARY 1996 $3.75 US $5.00 CAN

F I L M & V I D E O

THEIINEPENDENT

WELCOME TOTHE DOLLHOUSEand other hot tickets at Toronto

How to succeed atSELF-DESTRIBUTIONSquaring off pver Tiananmen: THE GATE OF HEAVENLY PEACE

FILM & VIDEOINDEPENDENT

January/February 1996

VOLUME 19, NUMBER 1

■ Publisher: Ruby Lerner Editor in Chief: Patricia Thomson '

Managing Editor: Sue Young Wilson

Editorial Assistant: Adam Knee

Intern: Sonia Sabnis

Contributing Editors: Kathryn Bowser, Luke Hones,

Barbara Bliss Osborn, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.Art Director: Daniel Christmas

Advertising: Laura D. Davis (212) 807-1400

National Distribution: Total Circulation (Manhattan)

(201) 342-6334; Fine Print (800) 874-7082;

Ingram Periodicals (800) 627-6247

Printed in the USA by Lancaster Press

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the

magazine ($45/yr individual; $25/yr student; $75/yr library; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) is included in annual membership dues

paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals Involved in independent media, 304 Hudson St., 6 f l „ New York, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 4638519; aivffivf@ aol.com. Second Class Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. POST

MASTER: Send address changes to The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., 6 f l „ NY, NY 10013.

Publication of an advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement. AIVF/FIVF are not respon

sible for any claims made in an ad. Letters to The Independent Film & Video Monthly should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent

Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the artic le ’s previous appearance in The Independent. The Independent is indexed in

the Alternative Press Index.

© Foundation for Independent Video and Film, 1996

AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner, executive director; Cleo Cacoulidis, advocacy coordinator; Pamela Calvert; director of programs and services; Leslie Fields, membership coordinator; Judah Friedlander, membership associate; Susan Kennedy, resource/development director; John McNair, information services associate; Leslie Singer,

director of administration; Lisa DeanneSmith, resource/’ development associate.

AIVF/FIVF legal counsel: Robert L. Freedman, Esq., Leavy, Rosenswelg & Hyman

AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Carrol Parrott Blue, Melissa Burch, Loni Ding, Barbara Hammer, Ruby Lerner (ex o ffi

cio), James Klein, Diane Markrow, Robb Moss, Robert Richter, James Schamus*, Norman Wang*, Barton Weiss,

Debra Zimmerman, Susan Wittenberg.* FIVF Board of Directors only

F e a t u r e s

44 Squaring Off Over Tiananmen: Critics Clamor at The Gate o f Heavenly Peace

It may never be possible to establish exactly what happened on June 4, 1989, in Tiananmen Square. But Carma Hinton and Richard Gordon have come close— and are making both the Chinese Government and student leaders squirm.by J erry W hi te

Ch

air

ma

n M

ao

pai

ntin

gs b

y Zh

ang

Hong

tu, c

ourte

sy L

ong

Bow

Grou

p, I

nc.

36 A Guide to Self Distribution: The Secrets to Many Happy Returns

Can’t get a theatrical distribution deal? Don’t despair. Doing it yourself is not only possible, but sometimes preferable.by J oe B er l i n g er

THE I N D E P E N D E N T January/February

mailto:[email protected]

In s id e■

COVER: Dawn “Wienerdog’ Weiner (Heather Matarazzo)

endures the cruelty of her classmates and indifference

of her parents in Todd Solondz's W elcom e to th e

D o llh o u s e , one of the hot tickets at the Toronto

International Film Festival.Courtesy Sony Pictures

Classics

4 P u b l i s h e r s N o t e

7 M e d i a N e w sNEA on the Edge: Discipline Programs Dismantledby C leo C a c o u l i d i sWill the FCC Go Next?by G igi B. S o h nR.I.R: The 90’s Channelby S ue Yo u n g W i lso nDirector Alleges Censorship in Post-Communist Polandby Ka ren R o s en be r g

13 T a l k i n g H e a d s Jean Roy:Cannes’ Critics Weekby H o w a r d Fei ns tei nJane Balfour:Foreign Sales Agentby M i c he le S h a p i r oKathleen Dore: Executive VP & General Manager, Bravo/lndependent Film Channelby M inne J .M. H o n gCarl Goodman: Curator of Digital Media, American Museum of the Moving Imageby S ue Y o u n g W i lso n

20 W i r e d B l u e Y o n d e rMedia Over-Loader:A Documentarian Goes Digitalby S ue Y o u n g W i lso nKodak’s On-Line Shortcut for Location Scoutsby Yo s h a G o l d s t e i n

Composer Contact! Plays Musical Matchmakerby S teve J a n a sTech Heads and Artists Unite at SIGGRAPH ’95by R obi n R eidy O ppenhei mer

28 F i e l d R e p o r t sToronto Turns 20by Pa t r i c i a T h o m s o nWrite ’Em, Cowboy: The Austin Heart of Film Festival & Screenwriters’ Conferenceby J a mes S he lt o nOn the Short Form:Four Distributors Take Stock of the Market for Shortsby M ax J. A lvarezShorts Stories from Sundanceby D a n a H arri s

55 I n F o c u s More Power to You:The Media 100 Nonlinear Editing Systemby Rob R o w n d

59 C u e & A w i t h J o n a t h a n

S t a c k by A dam K nee60 F e s t i v a l s by Ka t hr yn Bo ws er 70 C l a s s i f i e d s

73 N o t i c e s 80 M e m o r a n d a by Pa me l a c a l v l r t

MARCH 1 9 9 6$ 3 .7 5 us $ 5 .0 0 can

the independentf i l m & v i d e o

MONTHLY

Going HOG WILD on theCampaign Trail

Richard LeacockSix decades on the frontlines of documentary

FIVF

FOUNDATIONFOR INDEPENDENTVIDEO AND FILM

the independentf i lm & v ideo

monthlyMARCH 1996VOLUME 19, NUMBER 2

Publisher: Ruby Lerner Editor: Patricia Thomson Managing Editor: Sue Young Wilson Editorial Assistant: Adam Knee Intern: Tomio C. GeronContributing Editors: Kathryn Bowser, Luke Hones, Barbara Bliss Osborn, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.Art Director: Daniel Christmas Advertising: Laura D. Davis (212) 807-1400 National Distribution: Total Circulation (Manhattan)(201) 342-6334; Fine Print (800) 874-7082; Ingram Periodicals (800) 627-6247 Printed in the USA by Lancaster Press

T h e I n d e p e n d e n t F i l m & V id e o M o n t h l y (ISSN 0 7 3 1 5 1 9 8 ) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($45 /yr individual; $25/yr student; $75 /yr library; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/y r business/industry) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video, 3 0 4 Hudson St., NY, NY 1 0 0 1 3 , (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 1400; fax: (2 1 2 ) 4 6 3 -8 5 1 9 ; aivffivf@ aol.com. Second Class Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to T h e I n d e p e n d e n t F i l m & V id e o M o n t h l y , 3 0 4 Hudson St., NY, NY 1 0 0 13 .

Publication of T h e I n d e p e n d e n t is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Publication of any advertisement in T h e I n d e p e n d e n t

does not constitute an endorsement. AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad.

Letters to T h e I n d e p e n d e n t should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length.

All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article’s previous appearance in T h e I n d e p e n d e n t . T h e I n d e p e n d e n t

is indexed in the A l t e r n a t i v e P r e s s I n d e x .

© Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. 1996

AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner, executive director; Ellen Barker, resource/development director; Cleo Cacoulidis, advocacy coordinator; Pamela Calvert, director of programs and services; Leslie Fields, membership coordinator; Judah Friedlander, membership associate; Johnny McNair, information services associate; Leslie Singer, director of administration; Lisa Deanne Smith, resource/development associate.

AIVF/FIVF legal counsel: Robert L. Freedman, Esq., Leavy, Rosensweig & Hyman

AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Carrol Parrott Blue, Melissa Burch, Loni Ding, Barbara Hammer, Ruby Lerner (ex officio), James Klein, Diane Markrow, Robb Moss, Robert Richter, James Schamus*, Norman Wang*, Barton Weiss, Debra Zimmerman, Susan Wittenberg.* FIVF Board of Directors only

inside

26 Leacock’s Life Lessons

R i c h a r d L e a c o c k a n d c o p r o d u c e r V a le r ie L a lo n d e t a l k a b o u t t h e i r n e w v id e o s a n d h is 60 y e a rs o f d o c u m e n t a r y p r o d u c t io n .by G eorge F ifield .

32 The Cam paign Game

S o m e p o l i t ic a n s p la y t h e c a m p a ig n g a m e o n T V S o m e p la y i t o n t h e s tr e e ts , b lo c k b y b lo c k , h a n d s h a k e b y h a n d s h a k e .B u t w h i c h e v e r n e w o r t r i e d 'a n d ' t r u e w a y c a n d id a te s c h a s e v o te s , i t ’s s u re to b e f o u n d i n Vote fo r M e : Politics in A m erica , a t h r e e - p a r t s e r ie s a b o u t t h e c u l t u r e o f p o l i t ic a l c a m p a ig n s . T h r e e s ta lw a r t in d e p e n d e n ts — L o u is A lv a r e z , A n d r e w K o lk e r , a n d P a u l S t e k le r — a re b e h in d th is s e r ie s , w h i c h w i l l c a p o f f P B S ’s e le c t io n - y e a r p r o g r a m m in g n e x t f a l l .by Pa t r ic ia T homson

THE I N D E P E N D E N T March 1996

Inside6 AIVF A dvocacyby C leo C a c o u l i d i s9 M e d i a N e w s

Public TV Charts Survival Courseby G ary O. La r s o nSave that Video! Library of Congress Holds Hearingsby D ei rdre BoyleHoop Dream s Director Funds Home Team Filmmakersby S o n i a S abni sOne Less Pain in the IRSby S u s a n L ee

16 W i r e d B l u e Y o n d e rSite Seeing:Indie Movie Making on the World Wide Webby A ndrew G i a n n el li & S ue Y o u n g W i lso nGender Bender: Cyber Theorist Sandy Stoneby N a n c y Bless

22

16

40

20 F i e l d R e p o r t sFlorida Flicks:The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festivalby M i c h a l e n e S eiler M ilneCollective Insights:Four Groups That Have Withstood the Test of Timeby D e b o r a h R eber

40 I n & O u t o f P r o d u c t i o nby A dam K nee

42 F e s t i v a l sby Ka t hr yn Bo ws er48 C l a s s i f i e d s 52 N o t i c e s 62 M e m o r a n d a

Minutes of the AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors Meetingby Pa me l a C alv er t

COVER: Straight outta central casting: Buddy Ciansi, five-time mayor of Providence, Rl, with a constitutent. See Buddy run in Vote F o r M e : P o lit ic s in A m e r ic a , a three-part series on the culture of political campaigns.Photo courtesy the Center t o r New American Media

Morch 1996 THE I N D E P E N D E N T

APRIL 1 9 9 6

t h e i n d e p e n d e n t F i l m & v i d e o

M O N TH LY

Acting Up in Girls TownThe Genesis of Sundance Trophy Winner

Hype Dreams The art of Pubicity

Girls T o w n s Lili Taylor: indie actress of the houi

FIVF

FOUNDATION FOR

INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND FILM

the independentfilm & video

m onthlyApril 1996VOLUME 19, NUMBER 3

Publisher: Ruby Lerner Editor in Chief: Patricia Thomson Managing Editor: Sue Young Wilson Editorial Assistant: Adam Knee Intern: Tomio GeronContributing Editors: Kathryn Bowser, Luke Hones, Barbara Bliss Osborn, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.Art Director: Daniel ChristmasAdvertising: Laura D. Davis (212) 807-1400x225National D istribution: Total C irculation (Manhattan)(201) 342-6334; Fine Print (800) 874-7082; IngramPeriodicals (800) 627-6247Printed in the USA by Lancaster Press

T h e I n d e p e n d e n t F i l m & V id e o M o n t h l y (ISSN 0 7 3 1 5 1 9 8 ) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($45 /yr individual; $25/yr student; $75/yr library; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/y r business/industry) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video, 3 0 4 Hudson St., NY, NY 1 0 0 1 3 , (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 1400; fax: (2 1 2 ) 4 6 3 -8 5 1 9 ; aivffivf@ aol.com; http:// www.virtualfilm.com/AIVF/ Second Class Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to T h e I n d e p e n d e n t

F i l m & V id e o M o n t h l y , 3 0 4 Hudson St., NY, NY 1 0 013 .Publication of T h e I n d e p e n d e n t is made possible in

part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.






© Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. 1 9 9 6

AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner, executive director; Ellen Barker, resource/development director; Cleo Cacoulidis, advocacy coordinator; Pamela Calvert, director of programs and services; Leslie Fields, membership coordinator; Judah Friedlander, membership associate; Johnny McNair, information services coordinator; Leslie Singer, director of administration; Lisa Deanne Smith, resource/development associate.


AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Carroll Parrott Blue, Melissa Burch, Loni Ding, Barbara Hammer, Ruby Lerner (ex officio), James Klein, Diane Markrow, Robb Moss, Robert Richter, James Schamus*, Norman Wang*, Barton Weiss, Debra Zimmerman, Susan Wittenberg.* FIVF Board of Directors only

F e a t u r e s

26 Stepping Out: The Art of Publicityby Ka re n La r s e nWhether you’re doing publicity yourself or working with a professional, it helps to plan ahead. Publicist Karen Larsen details what’s needed to develop, budget, and carry out an effective campaign.

32 Suburbia’s Mean Streets: Enter Girls Townby D a n a H a r r i sImprovisational techniques help make G ir ls Town a particularly effective and disquieting look at street-smart high school girls in America. In this interview, director Jim McKay and producer Lauren Zalaznick discuss the collaborative process.

THE I N D E P E N D E N T April 1996

http://www.virtualfilm.com/AIVF/

Inside5 M e d i a N e w s

Overtaxed by IRS Releasing: Distribution Division Shuts Downby J uli a R o b i n s o n S hi mi zuMoMA Film Library Girdles Acquisitions Budgetby J erry W hiteGood Fellowship: Proving the Case for Arts Fundingby S ue Y o u n g W i lso nSequels


Rob Epstein & Jeffrey Friedman,The Celluloid Closet:Outing Queer Imagesby M i c h a e l FoxJo Andres, B lack Kites: Diaries from Sarajevoby La ur i e O uell et teThe Institute for Alternative Journalism & California Working Group,Not in Our Town Week: Activists Against Hateby S u s a n G e r ha rd

Cover: High schoolers Patti and Emma (Lili Taylor, front, and Anna Grace) confront the harsh realities of teen life in the nineties— including date rape, teen pregnancy, and suicide— in G irls Tow n.

Courtesy October Films

16 F i e l d R e p o r t sTreasures of the Sierra Madre Oriental:Mexico’s Mixtec Mediaby C h r i s t i n e M a c D o n a l dLong Range Rovers: Media Arts Centers That Are Surviving the ’90sby M i t c h A lbert

38 L e g a l B r i e f sNegotiating the Nontheatrical Distribution Dealby R obert L. S ei gel

4o B o o k s i n B r i e fWhat’s New in Black American Film Studiesby A dam K nee

42 F e s t i v a l sby Ka t hr yn Bo ws er49 C l a s s i f i e d s

5 4 N o t i c e s

64 M e m o r a n d aby Pa me l a C alvertApril 1996 THE I N D E P E N D E N T

MAY 1 9 9 6$ 3 .7 5 us $ 5 .0 0 can

the i n d e p e n d e n t f i l m & v i d e o

monthly

Smells Like Screen SpiritHow to Write a No-Budget Film

Collective Wisdo

mA Distribution Co-op turns 25

FIVF

FOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENT V ID EO AN D FILM

the independent

film & videomonthly

MAY 1996VOLUME 19, NUMBER 4

Publisher: Ruby Lerner Editor in Chief: Patricia Thomson Managing Editor: Dana Harris Editorial Assistant: Adam Knee Intern: Tomio GeronContributing Editors: Kathryn Bowser, Luke Hones, Barbara Bliss Osborn, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.Art Director: Daniel ChristmasAdvertising: Laura D. Davis (212) 807-1400 x225National D istribution: Total Circulation (Manhattan)(201) 342-6334; Fine Print (800) 874-7082; IngramPeriodicals (800) 627-6247Printed in the USA by Lancaster PressSend address changes to: T h e I n d e p e n d e n t F i l m &

V id e o M o n t h l y , 3 0 4 Hudson St., 6th fl„ NY, NY 10 0 13 .

T h e I n d e p e n d e n t F i l m & V id e o M o n t h l y (ISSN 0 7 3 1 5 1 9 8 ) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($45 /yr individual; $25/yr student; $75/yr library; $100 /y r nonprofit organization; $150/y r business/industry) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video, 3 0 4 Hudson St., NY, NY 1 0 0 1 3 , (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -

1400 fax: (2 1 2 ) 4 6 3 -8 5 1 9 ; aivffivf@ aol.com; http:// www.virtualfilm.com/AIVF/ Second Class Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to T h e I n d e p e n

d e n t F i l m & V id e o M o n t h l y , 3 0 4 Hudson St., 6th fl., NY, NY 1 0 0 13 .





All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article’s previous appearance in T h e I n d e p e n d e n t . T h e

I n d e p e n d e n t is indexed in the A l t e r n a t i v e P r e s s I n d e x .

© Foundation for Independent Video & Film, Inc. 1 996

AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner, executive director; Ellen Barker, resource/development director; Cleo Cacoulidis, advocacy coordinator; Pamela Calvert, director of programs and services; Leslie Fields, membership coordinator; Judah Friedlander, membership associate; Johnny McNair, information services coordinator; Leslie Singer, director of administration; Lisa Deanne Smith, resource/development associate.


AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Carroll Parrott Blue, Melissa Burch, Loni Ding, Barbara Hammer, Ruby Lerner (ex officio), James Klein, Diane Markrow, Robb Moss, Robert Richter, James Schamus*, Norman W ang*, Barton Weiss, Debra Zimmerman, Susan Wittenberg. * FIVF Board of Directors only

F e a t u r e s30 Cheap Tricks: How to Write a No-Budget Filmby R ob e rt D a r d o n

As any line producer knows, “no-budget” films come from “no-budget” scripts. Here

are a few rips to bear in mind before you set out to write the next B rothers M cM u llen .

34 A Bright New Day: Why a 25-year-old Distribution Co-op Could be the Wave of the Futureby A rlene G o l d b a r d &. D on A damsAs niche distributors are becoming an endangered species, increasingly mediamakers

are looking for alternative routes to audiences, from self-distribution to cooperative

ventures. One of the most instructive models is New Day Films, the distribution

co-op which, at age 25, has had time to learn the ropes.

THE I N D E P E N D E N T M ay 1996


Inside8 M e d i a N e w s

Out of Sight: Nervous Nellies in North Carolina Reject Gay Festby A n d r e a C o o perAIDS Video Vetoedby C y n t h i a C hrisITVS Partnership Lures Station Dollarsby S c o t t B ri g g sLatino Archive Launched in L.A.by M i c h a e l C ho

1 5 T a l k i n g H e a d sRaoul Peck, director: The M an by the Shoreby Y o s h a G o l ds t e i nJoshua Seftel, documentarian: Taking On the Kennedys iby N an L e v i n s o n INodi Murphy and Jack Lewis, festival codirectors:Outstanding South African Gay and Lesbian Film Festivalby C a t h e r i n e S a al f i el d


The Sum Total at Sundanceby D a n a H arri sDer Supermarkt: The Berlin International Film Festivalby Pa t r i c i a T h o m s o nThe Cine Club Circuit in Eastern Europeby C athy M eils

8

17

20

24

COVER: F o u r C o rn e rs o f N o w h e re producer/actor Julian Rad blows off steam on set in Ann Arbor, where director Steve Chobsky managed to get by without paying for most locations because of their ties in the community. In this issue, Robert Dardon looks at other tips and tricks for writing and line-producing no-budget films. Photo: Mark Day LEFT: The B ro th e rs M c M u lle n cast (top) and a recent shot of the New Day co-op.ABOVE: A scene from Sundance crowd-pleaser W a lk in g a n d T a lk in g .

4 0 C u e & Awith Will ParrinelloBY T o m i o G eron

4 2 F e s t i v a l sby Ka t hr yn Bo ws er5 2 C l a s s i f i e d s 5 6 N o t i c e s 6 4 M e m o r a n d aby Pa mel a C alvert

M ay 1996 THE I N D E P E N D E N T

JU N E 1 9 9 6

$3.75 us $5.00 can


m o n t h ly !

film s at Work How Struggles in Steel, American Job, and portray the labor force

Shooting on CreditDodging the Hazards of Plastic Financing

Steelworker Burt Dixon from S trug g les in S tee l

F|VF

FOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENT VIDEO

AND FILM

the independent

film & videomonthly

Ju n e 199 6

VOLUME 19, NUMBER 5

Publisher: Ruby Lerner Editor in Chief: Patricia Thomson Managing Editor: Dana Harris Editorial Assistant: Adam Knee Intern: Tomio GeronContributing Editors: Kathryn Bowser, Luke Hones, Barbara Bliss Osborn, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.Art Director: Daniel ChristmasAdvertising: Laura D. Davis (212) 807-1400 x225National D istribution: Total Circulation (Manhattan)(201) 342-6334; Fine Print (800) 874-7082; IngramPeriodicals (800) 627-6247Printed in the USA by Lancaster PressSend address changes to: T h e I n d e p e n d e n t F i l m & V id e o

M o n t h l y , 3 0 4 Hudson St., 6th fl„ NY, NY 1 0 013 .

T h e I n d e p e n d e n t F i l m & V id e o M o n t h l y (ISSN 0 7 3 1 5 1 9 8 ) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($45/yr individual; $25/yr student; $ 7 5/yr library; $100 /y r nonprofit organization; $150/y r business/industry) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video, 3 0 4 Hudson St., NY, NY 1 0 0 1 3 , (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 1400; fax: (2 1 2 ) 4 6 3 -8 5 1 9 ; aivffivf@ aol.com; http:// www.virtualfilm.com/AIVF/

Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to T h e I n d e p e n d e n t F i l m & V id e o M o n t h l y , 3 0 4 Hudson St., 6th fl„ NY, NY 1 0 0 13 .








AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner, executive director; Ellen Barker, resource/development director; Cleo Cacoulidis, advocacy coordinator; Pamela Calvert, director of programs and services; Leslie Fields, membership coordinator; Oscar Cervera, membership associate; Johnny McNair, information services coordinator; Leslie Singer, director of administration; Lisa Deanne Smith, resource/development associate.

AIVF/FIVF legal counsel: Robert I. Freedman, Esq., Leavy, Rosensweig & Hyman

AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Carroll Parrott Blue, Melissa Burch, Loni Ding, Barbara Hammer, Ruby Lerner (ex officio), James Klein, Diane Markrow, Robb Moss, Robert Richter, James Schamus*, Norman Wang*, Barton Weiss, Susan Wittenberg, Debra Zimmerman.* FIVF Board of Directors only

F e a t u r e s

2 8 Buy Now, Pay Later: The Pros and Cons of Credit Card Financingby R ob e rt D a r d o n

In 1987, Robert Townsend used credit cards to help secure production funds for H ollyw ood Shuffle and revolutionized indie film financing. Nine years later, plastic has become the independent filmmaker’s financial weapon of choice—even though the weapon is occasionally known to backfire.

3 1 Doing the Credit Card Shuffleby J im B i harit f Thinking about I putting your credit

history on the line ■ for the sake of your

f filmmaking career?A veteran of two

credit-financed low- budgetfeatures tells you how,

if you must.

3 2 Images of Labor: A Roundtable on Am erican Job, Dadetown, and Struggles in S teelby Pa t r i c i a T h o m s o n

Who are today’s working class heroes? Editor Patricia Thomson took the Sundance Film Festival as an opportunity to interview a group of filmmakers who used fact and fiction to visualize the struggles of the blue-collar worker in postindustrial America. 1

T HE I N D E P E N D E N T June 1996


Inside7 L e t t e r s8 M e d i a Me w sThe Rise and Fall of Am erican Playhouseby M ax J. A lvarezKodak Kills Super 8 Sound Filmby T oni T r e adwa yShorts Unspool on Pay-Per-View’s R eel S treetby In g a l i s a S c h r o b s d o r f fITVS Creates Anthology Showcaseby S c o t t B ri ggsSequelsBY T O M I O G E R O N

1 8 W i r e d B l u e Y o n d e rThe Digital Versatile Disc: It’s the Compact Disi That Does It All, But Does the Public Want It?by Luke H onesDeep Diver in the MIT Think Tank: Glorianna Davenport Helms the Media Lab’s Interactive Cinema Groupby G e o rg e F ifield2 2 F i e l d R e p o r t sScaling the Heights: The Aspen Shortsfestby W ill A n n et tMissing Media at the Media & Democracy Congressby Ba r b a r a B liss O s b o rn3 9 I n & O u tby A dam K nee4 2 F e s t i v a l sby Ka t hr yn Bo ws er5 2 C l a s s i f i e d s 5 7 N o t i c e s 6 4 M e m o r a n d aby Pa m e l a C a lvert

COVER: Burt Dixon, one of the steelworkers interviewed in S tru g g le s in S te e l, Tony Bub« and Ray Henderson’s moving oral history of African Americans in the steel industry. Photo: Curtis Reaves

12

18

40

June 1996 THE I N D E P E N D E N T

JU LY 1 9 9 6

$3.75 us $5.00 can

the in d e p e n d e n tfilm & video

monthly

Special Issue: Experimental Media Today

t h e m a r k e tT h e D i s t r i b u t o r ' s P O V

The VeteransSurvival Tales

T h e R e v o lu t io n a rie s W h o 's t h e C u t t in g E d g e

FIVF

FOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND FILM

the independent

film & videomonthly

July 1 99 6

V O L U M E 19, NU M BER 6

Publisher: Ruby LernerEditor in Chief: Patricia ThomsonManaging Editor.- Dana HarrisEditorial Assistant: Courtney PorterContributing Editors: Kathryn Bowser, Luke Hones,Barbara Bliss Osborn, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.Art Director: Daniel ChristmasAdvertising: Laura D. Davis (212) 807-1400 x225National Distribution: Total Circulation (Manhattan)(201) 342-6334; Fine Print (800) 874-7082; IngramPeriodicals (800) 627-6247Printed in the USA by Lancaster PressSend address changes to: T h e I n d e p e n d e n t F i l m &

V id e o M o n t h l y , 3 0 4 Hudson St., NY, NY 1 0 0 13 .

T h e I n d e p e n d e n t F i l m & V id e o M o n t h l y (ISSN 0 7 3 1 5 1 9 8 ) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($45/yr individual; $25/yr student; $75 /yr library; $100 /y r nonprofit organization; $150/y r business/industry) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video, 3 0 4 Hudson St., NY, NY 1 0 0 13 , (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 ; fax: (2 1 2 ) 4 6 3 -8 5 1 9 ;[email protected]; http:// www.virtualfilm.com/AIVF/

Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to T h e I n d e p e n d e n t F i l m & V id e o M o n t h l y ,

3 0 4 Hudson St., 6th fl„ NY, NY 1 0 0 1 3 .Publication of T h e I n d e p e n d e n t is made possible in

part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Publication of any advertisement in T h e

I n d e p e n d e n t does not constitute an endorsement. AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad.





AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner, executive director; Ellen Barker, resource/development director; Cleo Cacoulidis, advocacy coordinator; Pamela Calvert, director of programs and services; Leslie Fields, membership coordinator; Oscar Cervera, membership associate; Johnny McNair, information services coordinator; Leslie Singer, director of administration; Lisa Deanne Smith, resource/ development associate.


AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Carroll Parrott Blue, Melissa Burch, Loni Ding, Barbara Hammer, Ruby Lerner (ex officio), James Klein, Diane Markrow, Robb Moss, Robert Richter, James Schamus*, Norman W ang*, Barton Weiss, Susan W ittenberg, Debra Zimmerman.

6 M e d i a N e w s

Indies Back on Track at WNET: Reel New York an Advocacy Triumph by C y n t h i a C hrisIs This It? Bill Defunding Public TV Gathers Momentum by M a x J. A lvarezKey Funding FiguresLeave Rockefeller by Ba r b a r a A b ra s hRuss Hexter: 1968- 1996 by B en Za c k h e i m4 3 F e s t i v a l s by Ka t h r y n B o w s er5 1 C l a s s i f i e d s 5 5 N o t i c e s

6 4 M e m o r a n d a by Pa m e l a C a lv er t

THE I N D E P E N D E N T July 1996



I n s i d eCOVER: Video artist Vidie Lange, one of our “ 17 Ways to Resharpen a Cutting Edge,” created this wonderfully lurid Renaissance Madonna as part of her M a d o n n a M e d ita t io n s installation. To begin exploring our special report on the current wave of experimental media, turn to page 14. Cover photo courtesy videomaker. Photos pg. 2 (clockwise from top): Still from Deseret, courtesy James Benning; photo by Ant Farm, courtesy Video Data Bank; detail of T ra n s

m is s io n T o w e r: S e n t in e l , by Dara Birnbaum, photo by Birnbaum; Laurie Anderson & B r o k e n M e a t stills courtesy WNET. Pg. 3: Meena Nanji self-portrait (top); still from Daniel Reeves’ O b s e s s iv e B e c o m in g , courtesy videomaker.

E x p e r i m e n t a l M e d i a •A S p e c i a l R e p ort

14 How’re W e Doing? Five players analyze the state of the art and how experimental media is faring today.by G eorge FifieldKicking off this special issue is a roundtable on the state of experimental media. T h e Independent gathered two media artists, a funder, a curator/exhibitor, and a media arts center director to delve into questions of funding, audience, exhibition, and the future of the field.

19 A S ilver Lining: One foundation that’s still committed to experimental mediaby Scott BriggsWhile other public and private funders are dropping away or cutting back, the Jerome Foundation continues to carry the banner of experimental media.

20 Ask Amos: Cinema 16 founder Amos Vogel discusses how to cultivate experimental audiences today.by Scott Ma c DonaldCinema 16 was the longest-lived (1947-1963) and most successful film society in American history. At its height, it boasted 7,000 members and drew audiences in the hundreds for its avant-garde exhibitions. Amos Vogel shares a few suggestions for programmers today.

2 2 Experiments in Longevity:Veteran mediamakers discuss their survival skillsby C h r i s t i n e M a c D o n a l dWhat does it take to remain an experimental maker over the long haul? And is it possible to stay the course in today's harsh funding climate? T h e Independent grills a number of established film- and videomakers.

26 17 Ways to Resharpen the Cutting EdgeWho are some of the fresh faces and undersung talents on the experi mental scene today? T h e Independent singles out 17 makers and innovators working in formats ranging from 16mm to cine zines to Web sites.

34 4 Distributors + 5 Curators = The Big PictureHow has the market for experimental media changed over the past five years? Have any major shifts occurred in the work itself? Nine leading players provide a bird’s eye view.

40 Books-. A Theory of Its Own Resolutions: Contemporary Video Practices and Mirror Machine: Video and IdentityREVIEWED BY LAURA U. MAR K S

A U G U S T /S E P T E M B E R 1 9 9 6

t h e i n d e p e n d e n t

f i l m & v i d e om onthly

DeBoer Inc.

squeeze playFrom jjang members

■ ito SAG membersTriple Feature

Selling the script Building the budget Dealing with distribution

FIVF

FOUNDATION ffor independent fi lm &

video I


m onthlyAugust/September 1996 VOLUME 19, NUMBER 7

Publisher: Ruby Lerner Editor in Chief: Patricia Thomson

Managing Editor: Dana Harris Editorial Assistant: Courtney Porter

Contributing Editors: Kathryn Bowser, Roberto Dardon- Quezada, Luke Hones, Barbara Bliss Osborn,

Robert L. Seigel, Esq.Art Director: Daniel Christmas

Advertising: Laura D. Davis (212) 807-1400 x225 National Distribution: Total Circulation (Manhattan)

(201) 342-6334; Fine Print (800) 874-7082; Ingram Periodicals (800) 627-6247

Printed in the USA by Lancaster Press Send address changes to: T h e I n d e p e n d e n t F i l m &

V id e o M o n t h l y , 3 0 4 Hudson St., NY, NY 1 0 0 13 .

T h e I n d e p e n d e n t F i l m & V id e o M o n t h l y (ISSN 0 7 3 1 5 1 9 8 ) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of Video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($45/yr individual; $25/yr student; $75 /yr library; $100/y r nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video, 3 0 4 Hudson St., NY, NY 1 0 0 1 3 , (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 1400; fax: (2 1 2 ) 4 6 3 -8 5 1 9 ; [email protected]; http:// www.virtualfilm.com/AIVF/

Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to T h e I n d e p e n d e n t F i l m & V id e o M o n t h l y , 3 0 4 Hudson St., 6th fl„ NY, NY 10013 .








AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner, executive director; Jodie Magee, resource/development director; Cleo Cacoulidis, advocacy coordinator; Pamela Calvert, director of programs and services; Leslie Fields, membership coordinator; Oscar Cervera, membership associate; Johnny McNair, information services coordinator; Leslie Singer, director of administration.


AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Carroll Parrott Blue, Melissa Burch, Loni Ding, Barbara Hammer, Ruby Lerner (ex officio), James Klein, Diane Markrow, Robb Moss, Robert Richter, James Schamus*, Norman Wang*, Barton Weiss, Susan Wittenberg, Debra Zimmerman.* FIVF Board of Directors only

F e a t u r e s

32 My Life as a Dog: A Year in the Life of an Aspiring Directorby I ra Isr a elIf you can’t bear to hear another receptionist say, “Sorry, we don’t accept unsolicited scripts you’re not alone. Screenwriter and aspiring first-time director Ira Israel charts the trials and tribulations of being one of the many filmmakers trying to get a foot in the door.

36 Nothing but the Truth:The Incred ib ly True Adventures o f Two Girls in Love: A Case Studyby R o b e rt o Q u e z a d a -D a r d o n

“What’s your budget?” may be the most-asked question at filmmaker Q&As. Here’s an honest and in-depth answer for one low-budget feature.

38 Reality Check: The Distribution of Ind ian Sum m erby Rob S a b a lWhen independent filmmakers dream of distribution, they often dream big, fueled by the stories of break-through indie hits. But those cases are a very small percentage. The more typical distribution story is like the one told here.

43 “A Crazy Environment”: Robert Patton-Spruillon the making of Squeezeby A nd r e w O. T h o m p s o n

One-time gang members are now SAG members, thanks to the work of Robert Patton- Spruill, director of Squeeze and acting teacher at the Dorchester Youth Center in Boston.

43

THE I N D E P E N D E N T August/Septem ber 1996



I n s i d e8

5 L e t t e r s

8 M e d i a N e w s

Creating Tools for the Culture Wars:The NEA Tapes INITIATIVE and Artistic Freedom Under A ttackby M ax J. A lvarezThe Telecommunications Act Says That?by J ami e M c C l e l l a n d a nd D a n a H arri s

1 6 T a l k i n g H e a d s

Marc Smolowitz, distributor: Turbulent Artsby M i c h a e l FoxJoel Roodman & Patrick McDarrah, head honchos: Gotham Entertainment Groupby Da n a H arri sRobert Faust, festival director:Los Angeles Independent Film Festivalby Ro b er t o Q u e z a d a - D a r d o n


Cannes '96: Sans Hooplaby Ba r b a r a S c h a r r e s

2 4 T h e B u s i n e s s P a g e s

Get a Load of the Competition:Why the Independent Film Channels Struggle to Find a Home on Cableby S helley G abert


Combination Platter: Mixing and Matching Public and Private Fundingby R obert L. S ei gel

4 8 I n F o c u s

Digital Video, from Soup to Nutsby C arl M rozek5 2 I n & O u t o f P r o d u c t i o nby M i tc h A lbert5 5 F r e s h P r o d u c e 5 7 F e s t i v a l sby Ka t h r yn Bo w s er6 9 C l a s s i f i e d s 7 3 N o t i c e s 8 0 M e m o r a n d aby Pa me l a C a lvert

52

On the cover: Robert Agredo as Uzi in Robert Patton-Spruill's S q u e e z e (courtesy filmmaker). Photos, clockwise from left: the protagonists of S q u e e z e (photo: Marcia labco); video artist Nam June Paik, who protests arts funding cuts in The NEA Tapes IN IT IA T IV E (courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix); and one of the Russian women featured in b y e b y e B a b u s h k a (courtesy filmmaker).

A u g u s t / S e p t e m b e r 1 9 9 6 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

O C TO BE R 1 996

$3.95 us $5.25 can


f i l m & v i d e omonthly- T R E E S

L O U N G E

S t e v e B u s c e m i 's

D i r e c t i a l D e b u t

This page was intentionally left blank.

The table of contents does not appear in the archive PDF for this publication.

NOVEMBER 1996 $3.95 US $5.25 CANt h e i n d e p e n d e n t f i l m & v i d e o

m o n th ly

HYPE! the music, the media, , the movie

b e y o n d m i c r o s o f t

ANIMATION,ADBUSTERS,AND MORESean Croghan of Crackerbash, from the film Hype!

SPOTLIGHT ON THE PATTffC NORTHWEST

A IV F

associationof independent

video andfilmmakersm •

This page was intentionally left blank.

The table of contents does not appear in the archive PDF for this publication.

D ECEM BER 1 9 9 6


film & v id eomonthly

Fetishesa n d o th e r h o t d o c s

S E L L I N G T O T H E

E D U C A T I O N AL M A R K E T5 FUNDING

S O U R C E S 1 0

A R T I S T C O L O N I E

S 2 7 N E W F I L M S

Fetishes' M i stress Catherine

in the S&M palor Pandora s Box

FIVF

FOUNDTOINFOR INDEPENDENT FILM & VIDEOFOR THE


monthlyDecember 1996 VOLUME 19, NUMBER 10


Managing Editor: Dana Harris Editorial Assistant: Ryan Deussing

Contributing Editors: Kathryn Bowser, Luke Hones, Barbara Bliss Osborn, Roberto Quezada-Dardon, Robert

L. Seigel, Esq.Art Director. Daniel Christmas


(201) 342-6334, Ingram Periodicals (800) 627-6247 Printed in the USA by Lancaster Press

Send address changes to: T h e I n d e p e n d e n t F i l m & V id e o M o n t h l y , 3 0 4 Hudson St., NY, NY 1 0 0 13

T h e I n d e p e n d e n t F i l m & V id e o M o n t h l y (ISSN 0 7 3 1 5 1 9 8 ) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($45/yr individual; $25/yr student; $75 /yr library; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/y r business/industry) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video, 3 0 4 Hudson S t , NY, NY 1 0 0 1 3 , (2 1 2 ) SOY- MOO; fax: (2 1 2 ) 4 6 3 -8 5 1 9 , [email protected]; http:// www.virtualfilm.com/AIVF/

Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to T h e I n d e p e n d e n t F i l m & V id e o M o n t h l y , 3 0 4 Hudson St., 6th fl., NY, NY 10013 .

Publication of T h e I n d e p e n d e n t is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency






© Foundation for Independent Video & Film, Inc. 1 9 9 6

AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner, executive director; Oscar Cervera, membership associate; Leslie Fields, membership coordinator; Jodi Magee, development consultant, Johnny McNair, information services coordinator; Leslie Singer, director of administration.


AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Carroll Parrott Blue, Loni Ding, Barbara Hammer, Ruby Lerner (ex officio), Peter Lewnes, Cynthia Lopez, Jim McKay, Diane Markrow, Robb Moss, Robert Richter, James Schamus*, Norman Wang*, Barton Weiss, Susan Wittenberg.* FIVF Board of Directors only

F e a t u r e s

3 0 “A Moment of Seeing : T ie Private Vision of Peter Hutton..by S c o t t M a c D o n a l dSilent. Slow-paced. Meditative- Lyrical.The films of Peter Hutton require patience, but offe:1 great rewards.

3 5 Shooting for the Classroom: A Producers’ Primer to Self-Distribution to the Educational Market by B ecky S mi thSelf-distribution is a lot of work, but as Becky Smith discovered, it can be the best way to reach your market.

4 0 Up Troublesome Creek:A Case Studyby R o b e r t o Q u e z a d a - D a r d o nThe story of how Jeanne Jordan and Steve Ascher transformed her parents’ farm foreclosure into an award-winning documentary.

THE I N D E P E N D E N T Decem ber 1996



I n s i d e1 6 M e d i a N e w sPennies from Heaven: New Funds for Mediamakersby Ba r b a r a Bliss O s bo rn a nd D a n a Harri sWill Power: Estate Planning via VLAby D a n a H arri s11 T a l k i n g H e a d sRuth Hayes, animatorby T om K e o u g hShari Springer Berman &Robert Pulcini, directors: O ff the Menu: The Last Days o f Chasen’sby J ul i a H ammerThecla Schiphorst, multimedia artist: Bodymapsby M a r g a r e t G a l l a g h e r

12

Far from the Madding Crowd: 10 Artist Coloniesby Peter S t e i nb e rg50 Years and Counting:The New York Film Council Goes Silverby D ei rdre Boyle2 9 M e d i a E d u c a t i o nPower Tools: Clinics Help Nonprofits Flourish in a Mass-Media CultureBY J E S I K A H M A R I A R O S S .

'1 9 .14

2 4 F i e l d R e p o r t sGrowing Pains-.The Independent Feature Film Marketby D a n a H arri sThe Real Deal:Documentaries Get a New Section at the Toronto International Film Festivalby Pa t r i c i a T h o m s o n

4 4 I n & O u t o f P r o d u c t i o nby C o u r t n e y Porter4 6 F e s t i v a l sby Ka t hr yn Bows er5 1 C l a s s i f i e d s 5 6 N o t i c e s 6 4 M e m o r a n d ab y L e s l i e F i e l d sCOVER: One of the Mistresses from Pandora's Box, a Fifth Avenue S&M parlor that Nick Broomfield explores in F e t is h e s , a highlight of the new documentary sidebar at the Toronto film festival. Photo: Susan MeiselasTMagnum, courtesy In Pictures.

December 1996 THE I N D E P E N D E N T

the indenendentF i l m & V i d e omonthly

SUDDENMANHATTAN

A D R I E N N E S H E L L YWRITES AND DIRECTS

A L S O : S U N D A N C E

and HOUSE EXHIBITION

$3.95 us $5.25 can

FIVFjF O U N D A T I O NF O R IN D EP EN D EN TVID EO A ND FILM

the independentFILM AND VIDEO

monthlyJanuary/February 1997 VOLUME 20, NUMBER 1



Contributing Editors: Kathryn Bowser, Luke Hones, Barbara B liss Osborn, Roberto Quezada-Dardon,

Robert L. Seigel, Esq.Art Director: Daniel Christm as


(201) 342-6334; Ingram Periodicals (800) 627-6247 Printed in the USA by Lancaster Press

Send address changes to: The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., NY, NY 10013.

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 07315198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($45/yr individual; $25/yr student; $75/yr library; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video, 304 Hudson St., NY, NY 10013, (212) 8071400; fax: (212) 463-8519; [email protected]; http:// www.virtualfilm.com/AIVF/

Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., 6th fl., NY, NY 10013.

Publication of The Independent is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement. AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad.

Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length.

All. contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article’s previous appearance in The Independent. The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index.

© Foundation for Independent Video & Film, Inc. 1996

AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner, executive director; Oscar Cervera, membership associate; Leslie Fields, membership coordinator; Jodi Magee, development consultant; Johnny McNair, information services coordinator; Leslie Singer, director of administration.


AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Carroll Parrott Blue, Loni Ding, Barbara Hammer, Ruby Lerner (ex officio), Peter Lewnes, Cynthia Lopez, Jim McKay, Diane Markrow, Robb Moss, Robert Richter, James Schamus*, Norman Wang*, Barton Weiss, Susan Wittenberg.* FIVF Board of Directors only

Features2 5 Out of a Vortex

With Sudden Manahttan, Adrienne Shelly writes and directs her future.

b y D e i r d r e G u t h r i e

2 8 Power Struggle in the Arthouse ArenaThe number of arthouse theaters has grown. So why is it still so hard for independent filmmakers to claim their space?

by M ax J. A l v a r e z

3 2 The Fine Art of Four-Walling: Do-It-Yourself Distributionby M a r k J. H u i s m a n

The w'nys and hows of renting commercial theaters for public screenings of your film.

3 6 a Room of One’s Own: Screening Rooms in New York & L.A.by A n d r e a M e y e r & R o b e r t o Q u e z a d a - D a r d o n

Need a place to unspool your spanking new print to potential distributors or other industry players? Here’s a list to clip and save.

T H E I N D E P E N D E N T J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 1 9 9 7


In s i d e

6 P u b l i s h e r ’ s N o t e 9 L e t t e r s 12 M e d i a N ews

SAG Revamps Low-Budget Agreements to Attract Indiesby R o b e r t S e i g e l

Bill May Add 20 Years to Copyright Termsby Max A lvarez

18 F i e l d R e p o r t sTake Me HomeWill CineBlast! put short films on the video rental map?

by R y an D e u s s i n g

Gadfly in the OintmentSlamdance enters its third year vowing to stand on its own. But where does it stand?

by D a n a H a r r i s .

40 B o o k s i n B r i e fSubject to Change.- Guerrilla Television Revisited by Deirdre BoyleReviewed By Laurie Ouellette

cinéBLAST!

vol2

42 F e s t i v a l sby K a t h r y n B o w s e r

51 C l a s s i f i e d s 55 N o t i c e s 64 M e m o r a n d a

by L e s l i e F i el ds

COVER: Adrienne Shelly takes Manhattan in her directorial debut, Sudden Mahattan, written by and starring the actress. Photo: Anne K. Stenstad

J a n u a r y / F e b r u a r y 1 9 9 7 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T •

M A R C H 1997

$3.95 us $5.25 can

the independentF I L M &

V I D E O

DAYTRIPPERS

GREG MOTTOLA'S SUBURBAN ROAD MOVIE

THE PRODUCER'S JOB & HOW TO G E T IT

INDIES on CABLE


monthlyMarch 1 9 9 7VOLUME 20, NUMBER 2



Contributing Editors: Kathryn Bowser, Luke Hones, Barbara B liss Osborn, Roberto Quezada-Dardon,



(201) 342-6334; Ingram Periodicals (800) 627-6247 Printed in the USA by Cadmus Journal Services


The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 07315198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($45/yr individual; $25/yr student; $75/yr library; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $ 150/yr business/industry) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video, 304 Hudson St., NY NY 10013, (212) 8071400; fax: (212) 463-8519; [email protected]; http:// www.aivf.org

Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., 6th fl„ NY, NY 10013.

Publication of The Independent is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.



All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article’s previous appearance in The Independent. The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index..


AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner, executive director; Brent Renaud, membership associate; Leslie Fields, membership coordinator; LaTrice Dixon, Membership/Advocacy Assistant; Jodi Magee, development consultant; Johnny McNair, information services coordinator; Leslie Singer, director of administration.


AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Carroll Parrott Blue, Todd Cohen*, Loni Ding, Barbara Hammer, Ruby Lerner (ex officio), Peter Lewnes, Cynthia Lopez, Jim McKay, Diane Markrow, Laala Matias*, Robb Moss, Robert Richter, James Schamus*, Norman Wang*, Barton Weiss, Susan Wittenberg.* FIVF Board of Directors only

COVER: (L-R) Liev Schreiber, Anne Meara, Hope Davis,Pat McNamara, and Parker Posey, cast of The Daytrippers, a festival favorite now in theaters. The saga of its development, production, and distribution is a classic tale of the little engine that could. Photo: Graham Haber

F e a t u r e s

32 The Cat with Nine Lives: Greg Mottola and The Daytrippersby Pa t r i c i a T h o m s o n

An in-depth look at Mottola’s cheap but clever comedy, executive produced by sex, lies & videotape's Steven Soderbergh and Nancy Tenenbaum.

38 Follow the Money.-The Producer’s Job and Why Anyone Would Want Itby L i s s a G i bb s

Everyone wants to be a director. So why do some choose the unsung role of producer? Lissa Gibbs talks to a half-dozen successful indie producers about how they got started and why.

T H E I N D E P E N D E N T M a rc h 1997


http://www.aivf.org

inside

1 L e t t e r s 9 M e d i a N e ws

ITVS Eyes Distributionby Pa t A u f d e r h e i d e

New England’s Mixed Signals Goes Off the Airby G e o r g e F i f i e l d

Seattle’s Wiggly World Takes on Nonprofit Exhibitionby N o e l i a S a n t o s


The Sichel Sisters: A ll Over Meby E l i z a b e r r y

Rob Nilsson: Chalkby M i c h a e l F ox

Michael Benson: Predictions o f Fireby R y an D e u s s i n g

21 F i e l d R e p o r t sMore Than a Pretty Face?The Hamptons Film Festival weighs regional charm vs. industry clout. BY D a n a H a r r i s

I Love Paris When it SizzlesThe word from the RencontresInternationale de Cinema a Pans. BY W A N D A B E R S H E N

Out of HibernationArgentina’s Mar del Plata Film Festivalreturns after a 26-year hiatus. BY HOWARD F e i n s t e i n

44 C a b l e B e a t

Three’s a CharmRaw Footage, Split Screen, and Edgewise widen the visibility of independent film on cable.

by M i t ch A l b e r t

Command PerformanceOvation is cable’s newest arts network


50 I n a n d O u t of P r o d u c t i o nby R y a n D e u s s i n g

51 F e s t i v a l s 5 5 C l a s s i f i e d s

59 N o t i c e s 64 M e m o r a n d a

M a rc h 1 99 7 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

APRIL 1997

$3.95 us $5.25 can

the independentF I L M & V I D E Om onthly

T h e m a n y f a c e s o fS TE V E N S O D ER B ER G H

Writer, director, cinematographer & star of Schizopolis

FIVF



monthlyAPRIL 1997VOLUME 20, NUMBER 3


Managing Editor: Dana Harris Assistant Editor: Ryan Deussing

Contributing Editors: Luke Hones, Barbara B liss Osborn, Roberto Quezada-Dardon, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.

Art Director: Daniel Christm as Advertising: Laura D. Davis (212) 807-1400 x225

National Distribution: Total Circulation (Manhattan) (201) 342-6334; Ingram Periodicals (800) 627-6247

Printed in the USA by Cadmus Journal Services Send address changes to: The Independent Film &

Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., NY, NY 10013.

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 07315198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($45/yr individual; $25/yr student; $75/yr library; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video, 304 Hudson St., NY, NY 10013, (212) 8071400; fax: (212) 463-8519; [email protected]; http:// www.aivf.org





All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article’s previous appearance in The Independent. The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index.


AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner, executive director; Brent Renaud, membership associate; Leslie Fields, membership coordinator; LaTrice Dixon, Membership/Advocacy Assistant; Jodi Magee, development consultant; Johnny McNair, information services coordinator; Leslie Singer, director of administration.


AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Carroll Parrott Blue, Todd Cohen*, Loni Ding, Barbara Hammer, Ruby Lerner (ex officio), Peter Lewnes, Cynthia Lopez, Jim McKay, Diane Markrow, Laala Matias*, Robb Moss, Robert Richter, James Schamus*, Norman Wang*, Barton Weiss, Susan Wittenberg.* FIVF Board of Directors only

F e a t u r e s

28 Be Your Own Bookieby S u z a n n e M y e r s

Know the difference between bookers and exhibitors? How to convince a theater to take a chance on your film? Self-distributors reveal their trade secrets.

32 Crazy for You:Steven Soderbergh Cuts Loose with Schizopolisby Pa t r i c i a T h o m s o n

Bizarre, funny, indulgent, and beyond the pale, Schizopolis is also Soderbergh’s lowest-budget feature ever. In this interview, the director talks about why he jumped off his career track to return to no-budget filmmaking, and what was on his mind when writing this comedy about New Age gurus, doppelgangers, and dentists.

Schizopolis36 Seeing Double:

The Strategies Behind Mock Docsby E r i k a M u h a m m a d

Documentary parodies, fake personal diaries, hypothetical biographies, and other mock documentaries are on the rise. Erika Muhammed talks to three filmmakers about their aims and methods.

T H E I N D E P E N D E N T A p r il 199 7


http://www.aivf.org

Inside

7 L e t t e r s


Arthur Dong, Susan Streitfeld,Andrei Ujica & Denise Marikaby C a r a M e r t e s , M a r k J. H u i s m a n ,M i c h a e l B e n s o n & G e o r g e F i f i e l d

14 W i r e d B l u e Y o n d e r

Silent Spring Builds Bridge between CD-ROMs and Webby R os e Pa l a z z o l o

Independent Branda Miller and Voyager team up to pioneer a new hybrid technology.

Short Cinema Aims Highby Pa t r i c i a T h o ms o n

A new DVD publication showcases short films.

Homepage, Sweet Homepageby R o b e r t o Q u e z a d a -D a r d o n

Doug Block’s newest doc peers inside the Web.

18 F i e l d R e p o r t sSundance ’97: Surviving the Gold Rushby Pa t r i c i a T h o m s o n & C a r a M e r t e s

The already powerful festival increases its clout with its new premiere policy. Plus, The Independent’s own awards.

Sundance ’97: To the Kids’ Creditby Pa u l C ul lum

Pacoima Middle School students make a feature with help from Sundance and a long list of industry angels, and get an “A” for effort.

40 In F o c u s

Location, location, locationby C h r i s C h o m y n

Location scouting isn’t just about finding a place that looks : right. Unless you know what to check for, your dream spot may turn out to be a logistical nightmare.

The Do-Re-Mi’s of Soundtrack Dealsby J eff R a b h a n

What you need to know before approaching record companies about releasing your film’s soundtrack.

Tra in sp o ttin g

COVER: Steven Soderbergh, playing a New Age speechwriter in his film Schizopolis, takes a moment to reflect in the bathroom mirror. Courtesy filmmaker.

49 F e s t i v a l s 52 C l a s s i f i e d s

5? Notices 64 M e m o r a n d

M A Y 1 997

$3.95 us $5.25 can

t h e i n d e p e n d e n tFILM & VIDEO

monthly

A FAMILY AFFAIR The Films of Alan Berliner

WHEN IS PERSONALDOCUMENTARY"NOBODY'S BUSNESS"?

FIVF

IFOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND FILM

the independent FILM AND VIDEO

monthlyMAY 1997VOLUME 20, NUMBER 4


Managing Editor: Dana Harris Assistant Editor: Ryan Deussing

Contributing Editors: Luke Hones, Barbara B liss Osborn, Roberto Quezada-Dardon, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.


National Distribution: Total Circulation (Manhattan) (201) 342-6334; Ingram Periodicals (800) 627-6247 Printed in the USA by Cadmus Journal Services


The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($45/yr individual; $25/yr student; $7 5/yr library; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video, 304 Hudson St., NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 463-8519; indepen- [email protected]; http:// www.aivf.org

Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. POSTM ASTER: Send address changes to The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., 6th fl., NY, NY 10013.






AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner, executive director; Brent Renaud, membership associate; Leslie Fields, membership coordinator; LaTrice Dixon, membership/advocacy Assistant; Jodi Magee, development consultant; Johnny McNair, information services coordinator; Leslie Singer, director of administration.


AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Carroll Parrott Blue, Todd Cohen*, Loni Ding (co-president), Barbara Hammer, Ruby Lerner (ex officio), Peter Lewnes, Cynthia Lopez, Jim McKay, Diane Markrow (secretary), Laala Matias*, Robb Moss (chair), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus*, Norman Wang*, Barton Weiss (co-president), Susan Wittenberg (vice president).* FIVF Board of Directors only

F e a t u r e s

2 6 Going Mainstream: Self-Distribution to Multiplexesby D an M i r v i s h

When it comes to reaching mainstream audiences,Quentin Tarantino bestowed a good name on all independent filmmakers. Why the big theater chains may be interested in your self-distributed film, and how to claim one of their 21 screens as your own.

2 9 The Reluctant Witness: Alan Berliner goes home again to document his father, who says his life is Nobody's Businessby M i t ch A l b e r t

How does a personal documentary maker explore family history if family members refuse to talk? In Nobody’s Business, Berliner met obstinence with obstinence.

3 4 Ross McElwee’s High Wire Actby Pa t r i c i a T h o m s o n

Ross McElwee talks about The Six O ’Clock News, his unusual deal with Frontline, his arduous writing process, and the trouble with first-person documentaries.

T H E I N D E P E N D E N T M a y 199 7



http://www.aivf.org

COVER: Alan Berliner (L) turns the camera on his father, Oscar, in his new documentary, Nobody's Business. Writer Mitch Albert talks to the director about the delicate art of using family members as subject matter. Photo D. W. Leitner, courtesy filmmaker

Inside

8 M e d i a N e ws

Martin Scorsese, Child Pornographer?by M ax A l v a r e z

It’s Academic: George Eastman House School Preserves the Fine Art of Film Preservationby G e o r g e G r e l l a

Northwest Airlines Screens Independent Film to Captive Audienceby S c o t t B r i g g s

16 F i e l d R e p o r t sBerlin ’97: Just Happy to be Hereby D a n a H a r r i s

Pick Your Pitch: Amsterdam’s Forum for International Cofinancing of Documentariesby D a v i d H o u t s

Miami Nice: Miami Film Festival Cracks Open Door to Indie Film and Videoby H owi e M o v s h o v i t z

8

12

19

38 I n F o c u s

Not Worth the Gamble: 10 Misconceptions about Archival Rights & Clearancesby K enn R a b i n

38

How to Turn Old Footage into Long-term Dividends: Stock Houses Seek the Beautiful and the Mundane.by K a r e n K r a m e r

42

The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship: The Casablanca Nonlinear Editorby D a v i d C o l e m a n

50 F e s t i v a l s 53 C l a s s i f i e d s 57 N o t i c e s ,

64 Memoranda

J U N E 1997

$3.95 us $5.25 can

t h e in d e p e n d e n tF I L M & V I D E O

m o n t h l y

TH E O D YSSEY O FV IC T O R N U N ECreating UKEE'S GOLD

The Gensis ofGEN ARTof how to put ona Film Fest

I W an t M y W E B T VHOT Docs! Rotterdan's Cimemart,Women M a k e M o v i e s

& M o r e

Peter Fonda in Uless's Gold

This page was intentionally left blank.The table of contents page does not appear in the archive PDF.

JULY 1997

$3.95 us $5.25 can

the independent

F I L M & V I D E Om onthlyTHE EXPERIMENTAL EDGE:

African American Aesthetics

George KucharVideo's Early Years

Also: Film A the Web DIY Exhibition

FIVF FOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND FILM

the independent FILM AND VIDEO

monthlyJULY 1997

Publisher: Ruby Lerner Editor in Chief: Patricia Thomson Managing Editor: Ryan Deussing

Assistant Editor: Laoise MacReamoinn Intern: Cassandra Uretz

Contributing Editors: Lissa Gibbs, Luke Hones, Barbara B liss Osborn, Roberto Quezada-Dardon,





The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 07315198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($45/yr individual; $2 5/yr student; $75/yr library; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of independent film and videomakers, 304 Hudson St., NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 4638519; [email protected]; http://www.aivf.org







AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner, executive director; LaTrice Dixon, membership/advocacy assistant; Leslie Fields, membership coordinator; Jodi Magee, development consultant; Johnny McNair, information services coordinator; Brent Renaud, membership associate; Leslie Singer, director of administration.



features

S p e c i a l R e p o r t : E x p e r i m e n t a l M e d i aIn this issue, experimental film, video, and digital art get the spotlight. Featured articles include an interview with the prolific and provocative George Kuchar; comments from seven African American experimental mediamakers; a profile of distributor Film-makers’ Cooperative; a review of Video Data Bank’s 17-part series on early video; and a round-up of four festivals that highlight experimental work.

32 Hi Tech Historiesby E r i k a M u h a m m a d

Seven artists reflect on experimental media of the African Diaspora: Robert Banks, Portia Cobb, Ulysses Jenkins, Philip Mallory Jones, Cauleen Smith, Jocelyn Taylor &. Reggie Woolery.

38 Stormchaser: George Kucharby S c o t t M a c D o n a l d

Video diarist & underground legend George Kuchar kicks up a storm with his Weather Diaries.

44 Risky Business: Film Toursby M a r k J. H u i s m a n

Film tours match up art &. commerce, but tour sponsors can bring their owm agendas.

48 in&out of production 51 festivals

T H E I N D E P E N D E N T J u ly 1997


http://www.aivf.org

m e d ia n e w s

6 Arthouse Alternatives:DIY Exhibition Spaces on the Riseby R i c h a r d B a i m b r i d g e

9 Independent Film Channel FrontsFinishing Funds for Next Wave Filmsby Pa u l C ul lum

11 Independents Day: DistributionRevolution?by R y an D e u s s i n g

blue yonder

12 Digerati Redux:Clicking lm Hot Links to a D igital CultureR e v i e w e d by R y an D e u s s i n g

14 No Establishing Shot:Shu Lea Cheang Gets Web Site SpecificBY M i kki H a l p i n

12

distributor FAQ

16 Film-Makers' Cooperativeby L i s s a G ibbs

16

I n s i d e

field reports18 The Festival that Rocks

by B a r b a r a M a i n g u y

Toronto’s Images Festival of Independent Film and Video revels in the truly alternative

20 Experimental Be-inby C h r i s t o p h e r , B o r r e l l i

The Ann Arbor Film Festival hits its 35th anniversary with its sixties esprit intact.

23 Notes from the Undergroundby R y an D e u s s i n g

The New York Underground Film Festival aims for a cross between Warhol’s Factory and the Manson family.

24 Community Klatchby C y n t h i a R eid

For Chicago’s Women in the Director’s Chair, content counts.

28 I'm Having a Flashbackby D a n i e l l e S c h w a r t z

Video Data Bank revisits video’s formative years with Surveying the First Decade: Video Art and Alternative Media in the United States, 1968-1980.

Cover: still from Portia Cobb’s video Don’t Hurry Back....Courtesy Videomaker

56 classifieds 60 notices 64 memorandaJ u ly 1 99 7 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

20

AUGUST/SEPTEM BER 1997$3.95 us $5.25 canthe independent

FILM AND VIDEOm o n t h l y

T h e L o n e l i n e s s o f

t h e L o w - B u d g e E d i t o r

Darien Gap directorBRAD ANDERSON

reports from the cutting room

Language SkillsSundance winner

talks about SUNDAY

Also: Shooting Overseas

Streaming Video On-line Investment

Hope Davis in Brad Anderson's Next Sfop Wonderland

FIVF

J FOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND FILMFOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND FILM


monthlyAUGUST/SEPTEMBER 1997 VOLUME 20, NUMBER 7


Assistant Editors: Tommy Pallotta, Cassandra Uretz Intern: Kat Ascharya

Contributing Editors: Lissa Gibbs, Luke Hones, Barbara B liss Osborn, Roberto Quezada-Dardon,

Robert L. Seigel, Esq.Art Director: Daniel Christmas




The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 07315198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($45/yr individual; $25/yr student; $75/yr library; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of independent film and videomakers, 304 Hudson St., NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 4 638519; [email protected]; http://www.aivf.org







AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner, executive director; LaTrice Dixon, membership/advocacy assistant; Leslie Fields, membership coordinator; Jodi Magee, development consultant; Johnny McNair, information services coordinator; Brent Renaud, membership associate; Leslie Singer, director of administration.



features32 Language Skills: The Scripting of Sunday

An Interview with Jonathan Nossiterby D a v i d H ou t s

Sundance jury and screenplay prize winner Jonathan Nossiter talks about his collaboration with poet and short-story writer James Lasdun, their research in homeless shelters, and how working with nonprofessional actors helped shape the script of this award-winning film.

36 Tales from the Crypt: Editing Next Stop Wonderlandby B r a d A n d e r s o n

Writer/director/editor Brad Anderson (The Darien Gap) shares the diary he kept while editing his second feature, Next Stop Wonderland, and offers up musings on the difference an Avid makes, how best to edit improvisational scenes, and the big battles and infinitesimally small choices every editor faces.

40 Esperanto for Directors: Or How to be Safe, Not Sorry, When Shooting Abroadby D a v i d G i a n c o l a

With foreign governments waving enticements before cash-strapped filmmakers, it can be tempting to fly your production to faraway places. But before you do, there are a few things you should know to avoid disaster.

4 4 f e s t i v a l s ___________________________ 5 4 c l a s s i f i e d s

T H E I N D E P E N D E N T A u g u s t / S e p t e m b e r 1 9 9 7


http://www.aivf.org

Cover: Hope Davis bellys up to the bar in Brad Anderson’s Next Stop Wonderful. In this issue, writer/director/editor Anderson shares his experiences inside the editing suite.Photo: Claire Folger, courtesy Robbins Entertainment.

in s id e

7 Beltway Bargaining:NEA Bills Offer Contrasting Fatesby M a r k J. H u i s m a n

12 Dr. Streamlove, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Webby D a v i d C o l e m a n

15 SEC Nixes On-Line Investment Offeringsby R o b e r t L. S e i g e l

18 Northern Arts Entertainmentby L i s s a G i bbs

20 Screenplays in the Spotlight: The Best Festivals, Competitions, and Conferences for Film Scribesby B en Z a c k h e i m

24 The Trojan Horse: Inside the Gates of Hollywood, the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Gains Groundby D i a n a R ico

27 New Media @ LAIFFby D a v i d C o l e m a n

28 Canary in a Coal Mine-.The 1997 Hong Kong Film Festivalby M i c h a e l B e ns o n

____ 6 4 A IVF H a p p e n in g s

O C T O B E R 1997t h e i n d e p e n d e n tF I L M & V I D E O I

monthly

S p e c i a l I s s u e : .

M edia ActivismG r a s s r o o t s C o n n e c t i o n s F i v e W a y s t o F i n d Y o u r A u d i e n c e

George StoneyA l if e in A lt e r n a t iv e M e d ia

A lso '

ERROL MORRISB e t w e e n F a c & F i c t i o n

T V S C O N T R A C T SWhat's in the fine print

DIGITAL AIRWAYSThe Big Giveaway

Albania Cruz and daughter in Carol Cassidy's film on teen mothers, Baby Love

FIVF


the independentFILM AN D VIDEO

monthlyOCTOBER 1997 VOLUME 20, NUMBER 8


Assistant Editors: Tommy Pallotta, Cassandra Uretz Contributing Editors: Lissa Gibbs, Luke Hones, Barbara

B liss Osborn, Roberto Quezada-Dardon,Robert L. Seigel, Esq.



Printed in the USA by Cadmus Journal Services Send address changes to: The Independent Film &

Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., NY, NY 10013.

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 07315198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($45/yr individual; $25/yr student; $75/yr library; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of independent film and videomakers, 304 Hudson St., NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 4638519; independent(S)aivf.org; http://www.aivf.org







AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner, executive director; LaTrice Dixon, membership/advocacy assistant; Leslie Fields, membership coordinator; Jodi Magee, development consultant; Johnny McNair, information services coordinator; I Wang, membership associate; Leslie Singer, director of administration.



S P E C I A L S E C T I O NMedia Activism

28 Oh, Lucky Man: George StoneyGeorge Stoney’s six decades as a media activist, educator, and filmmaker. by D e i r d r e B oy l e

32 Five Paths into the GrassrootsStill not satisfied after your activist video is picked up by a distributor and screened on public TV? Here are some ways to get your work to audiences that will use it, not just watch it. by Liz C a n n e r & G e o r g e F i f i e l d

37 The Good Fight: Public BroadcastingPublic Radio & Television in America: A Political History, by Ralph Engelman.R E V I E WE D BY B A R B A R A A B R A S H

38 The Human Rights Watch Film FestivalFounded in 1989, this fest is hitting its stride with quality films and an international tour. by L a i o s e M ac R e a m o i n n

40 Distributor FAQ: Bullfrog FilmsNestled away in Pennsylvania Dutch country is a 24-year-old distributor that handles all things environmental. BY L l S S A G l B B S

COVER: When Atlanta filmmaker Carol Cassidy realized that the majority of her teenaged cousins were young moms, she decided to probe deeper and make a film about the reasons why so many teenagers choose to have babies. Through the efforts of ITVS’s Community Connections Project, the film has reached adolescent girls through screenings at YMCAs and other community groups. This and other successful outreach efforts are detailed in “Five Paths to the Grassroots.” Pictured: Albania Cruz and daughter. Photo: Joyce George, courtesy ITVS.

4 7 F E S T I V A L S

T H E I N D E P E N D E N T O c t o b e r 1 9 9 7

http://www.aivf.org

I N S I D EF E A T U R E S

25 Genre Buster: Errol MorrisThe filmmaker talks about his elegiac Fast, Cheap & Out of Control and the thin line between documentary and fiction, b y M i c h e l N e g r o p o n t f .

M E D I A N E W S

8 Up for Grabs: Digital Airwaves and the Public Interest

New technology is in the spotlight, but broadcasters are work- mg behind the scenes to free themselves from public interest obligations, b y M a r k J . H u i s m a n

12 Man with a Marketing PlanMan with a Plan director John O’Brien teams up with QVC to “Spread Fred.” BY R I C H A R D B A I M B R I D G E

field reports

14 Cannes’ Golden MomentsFor its 50th anniversary, the world’s most famous fest offers the flippant and the fabulous, the sublime and the ridiculous. b y B a r b a r a S c h a r r e s

18 A Lollapalooza with Growing PainsThe New York International Film & Video Festival graduates to the nearly credible. BY R I C H A R D B A I M B R I D G E

L E G A L B R I E F S

20 Get Smart: The ITVS Contract Up CloseSome points to consider before you sign on the dotted line. b y R o b e r t I. F r e e d m a n

FRESH PRODUCE

44 A sampling o f independent films and videos currently in theaters or on the air. BY C A S S A N D R A U R E T Z

3 4 C L A S S I F I E D S 6 0 N O T I C E S 3 4 A I V F H A P P E N I N G S

NO VEM BER 1 9 9 7

$3.95 us $5.25 can

the independentFILM & VIDEO

MONTHLY

The Ohio River Valley

PITCHING TO LOCAL PUBLIC TVMidwest Fests

How Job Training Programs Can

Fund Your Film

Also: ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS From Pittsburgh to Paducah

FIVF

/FOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND FILM

the independent

monthlyVOLUME 20, NUMBER 9


Assistant Editors.- Tommy Pallotta, Cassandra Uretz Contributing Editors: Lissa Gibbs, Luke Hones, Barbara

B liss Osborn, Roberto Quezada-Dardon,Robert L. Seigel, Esq.



Printed in the USA by Cadmus Journal Services Send address changes to: The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., NY, NY 10013.

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 07315198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($45/yr individual; $25/yr student; $75/yr library; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of independent film and videomakers, 304 Hudson St., NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 4638519; [email protected]; http://www.aivf.org





All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent. The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index.


AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner, executive director; LaTrice Dixon, membership/advocacy assistant; Leslie Fields, membership coordinator; Jodi Magee, development consultant; Johnny McNair, information services coordinator; I Wang, membership associate; Leslie Singer, director of administration.



I N S I D ENOVEMBER 1997

M E D I A N E W S

6 Wanted: A Few Good FilmmakersColumbia TriStar opens the door to low-budget features in a new mentor program.

by S h a r o n S wa r t

8 The Sundance Imprimatur: Coming to a Theater Near YouAfter an 18-month search, Sundance has finally found a theater chain that’s willing to partner up: General Cinemas.

by R i c h a r d B a i m b r i d g e

W I R D E R B L U E Y O N D E R

10 New Talent in New MediaM1L1A, a major French new media conference, can es out a comer for student projects.

by K ri s M a l d e n

F E S T I V A L S 5 2 C L A S S I F I E D S


http://www.aivf.org

R e g i o n a l S p o t l i g h tOhio River Valley

14 Mavericks of the Midwest

BY G U E S T E D I T OR SS t e v e n B o g n a r & J u l i a R e i c h e r t

16 From Pittsburgh to PaducahMediamaking on the map.

18 Roadside AttractionsMany mediamakers travel to a region of the country if they are attending a festival, or are on location for a shoot. But the states bordering the Ohio River have more to offer itinerant filmmakers. Here are a few of the hot spots worth a stopover.

by H a r r y K l o m a n ,C i ndy B a r b e r ,B e t t y G a b r i e l l i , R h o n d a R e e v e s , T oni M o r r i s & R i c h a r d L. W i l l i a m s , J r .

24 Labors of LoveOhioans tap into a new source of film financing: job training funds.

by M a r g a r e t A . M c G urk

COVER (clockwise from top): Neil LaBute’s In the Company of Men-, Prized Pieces’s awards night; Richard Myers’s Jungle Girl-, Jim Duesing’s Law of Averages & Elizabeth Barrett on location. Courtesy Sony Pictures Classics, NBPC & filmmakers; background photo: Patricia Thomson

28 NBPC: Making its MarkThe National Black Programming Consortium has both a broad reach

and a local consciousness.

by C a r o l H e c t o r -H a r r i s

31 Getting to Know YouMore than a neighborly gesture: Producers create their own Public T V Program Fair. BY J U L I A R E I C H E R T

32 Talking HeadsBilly Jackson, Jim Duesing, Richard Myers &. Elizabeth

Barrett. BY HARRY K lOMAN, STEVE R a MOS & RUTH B radley

38 Distributor FAQ: AppalshopFrom the hills of Whitesburg, Kentucky, Appalshop spreads the culture of Appalachia. BY L i s s a G l B B S

40 Midwest Festsby C h a r l e s C a s s a d y

44 In & Out of Production in the Midwestby C a s s a n d r a U r et z

S.W NOTICES 60 A I V F TRADE DISCOUNTS 64 A I V F HAPPENINGS

DECEMBER 1 997$3.95 us $5.25 can

the independent

FILM & VIDEOm onthly

THE AVANT GARDE MEETS THE UPPERwEST SIDE

Also:Kicking & Screaming'sNOAH BAUMBACH:BACK WITH DOUBLE FEATUREInside HBOAvid vs. Media 100

Composite from Lewis Klahr's animated film Pony Glass.

FIVE



monthlyDECEMBER 1997 VOLUME 20, NUMBER 10

Publisher: Ruby Lerner Editor in Chief: Patricia Thomson Managing Editor.- Ryan Deussing

Editorial Assistant: Cassandra Uretz Intern: Emily Nye

Contributing Editors: Lissa Gibbs, Luke Hones, Barbara B liss Osborn, Tommy Pallotta, Rob Rownd,





The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 07315198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($45/yr individual; $25/yr student; $75/yr library; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of independent film and videomakers, 304 Hudson St., NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 4638519; [email protected]; http://www.aivf.org





All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent. The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index.


AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner, executive director; LaTrice Dixon, membership/advocacy assistant; Leslie Fields, membership coordinator; Jodi Magee, development consultant; Johnny McNair, information services coordinator; Tommy Pallotta, Webmaster; Leslie Singer, director of administration.



i n s i d eDECEMBER 1997

30 FEATURES

Mr. EconomyNoah Baumbach (Kicking & Screaming) pulls a rabbit out of a hat with his back-to-back shoot of Highball and Mr. Jealousy.

b y E v e C l a x t o n

34

The Avant Garde Meets the Upper West SideThis year the New York Film Festival expanded its long-running avant-garde program fourfold. Festival director Richard Pena talks about the whys and wherefores.

by R y a n D e u s s i n g

Cover & above illustration: Lewis Klahr

T H E I N D E P E N D E N T D e c e m b e r 1 9 9 7


http://www.aivf.org

4 L E T T E R S

13 ME DI A NE WS

Ban the DrumEighteen years after its release, Volker Schlondorff’s 1979 classic The Tin Drum is deemed obscene by a court in Oklahoma, and video cassettes are ripped from shelves and consumer’s houses. While the ACLU has issued a call to arms, censors have a list of 150 more suspect videos.

by A dam P i n c u s

Pennies from Heaven?PBS aims to cut competitors off at the pass by laying claim to all noncommercial space set aside within. Direct Broadcast Satellite channels. But not everyone agrees they should be the only game in town.

by M a r k J . H u i s m a n

18 D I S T R I B U T O R S FAQ

Zeitgeist FilmsA boutique distributor provides a taste of the times.

by L i s s a G i bbs

46 F E S T I V A L S

50 C L A S S I F I E D S

20 F I E L D R E P O R T S

Open Doors at No BordersNo Borders is the place to be at the IFFM, which is otherwise an exercise in chaos theory.


Rebirth in VeniceA new festival director injects an arthouse sensibility into this A-list event.

BY C a r o l a S p a d on i

The Kids Are AlrightUsing interns on the set.

by B i l l S t a m e t s

26 C A B L E BEAT

Inside HBOThe dish on the documentary division.

by S h e l l e y G a b e r t

38 IN F OCUS

Getting in Touch with Your Inner EditorHow to choose between Avid MCXpress and Media 100

by R ob R ownd

42 IN & OUT OF P R O D U C T I O N

54 N O T I C E S

64 A I V F H A P P E N I N G S

D e c e m b e r 1 9 9 7 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

$3.95 us $5.25


th e in d e p e n d e n tF i l m & V i d e o

MONTHLY

E u r o p a !

sale & cofinancing foreign agents

cologne medienforum karlovy varyinput

six America's in europe

what's up Sundance women take over toronto

Troy Veinotte in Thom Fitzgerald’s The Hanging Garaen

FIVF


the independent

FILM & VIDEOm o n t h l y

January/February 1998 VOLUME 21, NUMBER 1

Publisher Ruby Lerner

Editor in Chief: Patricia Thomson

M anaging Editor: Ryan Deussing

Editorial Assistant: Cassandra Uretz

C ontributing Editors: Lissa Gibbs, Luke Hones, Barbara Bliss

Osborn, Rob Rownd, Robert L. Seigel, E s q , Tommy Pallotta

Art Director: Daniel C hristm as

Advertising: Laura D. Davis (21 2) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x225

•

National D istrib utio n: Total C irculation (M an ha tta n) (20 1) 3 4 2 -6 3 3 4 ;

Ingram Periodicals (80 0) 6 2 7 -6 2 4 7

Printed in the USA by Cadmus Journal Services

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:

The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., NY, NY 10013.

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($45/yr individual; $25/yr student; $75/yr library; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) is included in

annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video, 304 Hudson St., NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 463-8519; [email protected]; http://www.aivf.org

Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.

Publication of The Independent is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement

AIVF/F1VF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad.

Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film , Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index.


AIVF/RVF staff. Ruby Lerner, executive director; LaTrice Dixon, membership/advocacy assistant; Leslie Fields, membership coordinator; Jodi Magee, development consultant; Johnny McNair, information services coordmator;Marya Wethers, membership associate; Leslie Singer, director of administration.


AIVF/RVF Board of Directors: Carroll Parrott Blue, Todd Cohen*, Loni Ding (co-president), Barbara Hammer, Ruby Lerner (ex officio), Peter Lewnes, Cynthia Lopez, Jim McKay, Diane Markrow (secretary), Laala Matias*, Robb Moss (chair), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus*, Barton Weiss (co-president), Susan Wittenberg (vice president).* FIVF Board of Directors only

I N S I D EJANUARY/FEBRUARY 1998

F E A T U R E S

33 Credit Check: A Case Study of the International Financing of The Port o f Last ResortA step-hy-step study of how the financing came in place for the dehut documentary feature of Joan Grossman and Paul Rosdy.

by R ob S a b a l

36 Europa 6:U.S. Filmmakers Living AbroadAmerican indie filmmakers living and working in Europe discuss the pros and cons of relocation.


e i r o p a 6

40 The World According to Foreign Sales AgentsFour top agents talk about the world market and what they look for in the films they represent.

by S h a r o n S wa r t

44 Man of the Hour: Geoffrey GilmoreAs chief programmer of the Sundance Film Festival, still far and away the most important film festival in the U.S., Gilmore gets his share of knocks and adulation. In this interview, he talks about what the festival has become and where the cutting edge is today.

by Pa t A u f d e r h e i d e

THE I NDEPENDENT January/February 1998


http://www.aivf.org

International Cofinancing & Sales

Fr om t h e s e s h o r e s , E u r o p e s e e m s t o o f f e r a p o t of g o l d a t t h e end of t h e r a i n b o w . In t h i s i s s u e , w e l o o k a t w h a t p r o d u c e r s m i g h t a c t u a l l y f i n d in t e r m s of i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o f i n a n c e , c o p r o d u c t i o n , a n d s a l e s . W i t h t h r e e f e a t u r e s , f o u r f e s t i v a l r e p o r t s , a l e g a l b r i e f , a n d a f i e l d r e p o r t on t h e t o p i c , r e a d e r s wi l l f i n d a v a r i e t y of p e r s p e c t i v e s h e r e .

M E D I A N E W S

11 NEA Survives Act II; Final Curtain for Jane AlexanderWith the Senate on its side, the NEA wins by a whisker in this last round.

by M a r k J.Hu i s ma n

12 Filmmakers Fight Censorship with GiveawayWith it’s E lem entary the subject of attack by antigay groups, the filmmakers embark on a unique strategy-

BY E mILY N EYE

D I S T R I B U T O R F A Q

16 First Look Pictures/Overseas FilmgroupEllen and Robert Little talk about their sales and distribution company, which includes works hy John Sayles, Tamra Davis, Alex Cox, and other indie feature directors.


F I E L D R E P O R T S

18 Women, Women, EverywhereFemale directors— mature, mid-career, and neophytes— blanket the Toronto International Film Festival this year.

by Pa t r i c i a T h oms o n

22 Euro Dollars for Docs:Looking to the Old WorldDocumentary is thriving in Europe; what does that mean for indies Stateside?

by B e t h a n y H aye

24 Foreign TreasuresCologne, Banff, INPLJT, and Karlovy Vary: Four events that otfer ideal opportunities to find foreign partners.

by C l a u s M u e l l e r , M a u r e e n M a r o v i c h , R al ph A r l y c k , a n d W a n d a B e r s h e n


46 The Good, the Bad, and the UglyA guide to foreign sales agent agreements

by R o b e r t L. S ei ge l

46 F E S T I V AL S 50 C L A S S I F I E D S

54 NOTI CES64 AI VF H A P P E N I N G S

Cover: Troy Veinotte as the teenaged Sweet William in The Hanging Garden, by Thom Fitzgerald, one of the sleeper hits at the Toronto International Film Festival. Photo: C. Reardon

January/February 1998 THE I NDEPENDENT

MARCH 1998$3.95 us $5.25

the independentF I L M & V I D E O

MONTHLY

V i e w i n g V é r i t éHOW '60'S CIMEMA HOLDS UP TODAY

Mick Jagger in “Gimme Shelter’'

FIVF


the independent

FILM & VIDEOMarch 1998

VOLUME 21, NUMBER 2

Publisher: Ruby Lerner

Editor in C hief: Patricia Thomson

M anaging E d ito r Ryan Oeussing

Editorial A ssista nt: Cassandra Uretz

C ontributing Editors: Lissa Gibbs, Luke Hones, Barbara B liss

Osborn, Tommy P a llo tta , Rob Rownd, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.

Art Director.- Daniel C hristm as

Advertising: Laura D. Davis (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 225

N ational Distribution.- Total C irculation (M an ha tta n) (2 0 1 ) 3 4 2 -6 3 3 4 ;

Ingram P eriodicals (8 0 0 ) 6 2 7 -6 2 4 7

Printed in the USA by Cadm us Journal Services


The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson S t, NY, NY 10013.

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Rrundation for 'ndependent Video and Film (F1VF), a nonprofit tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film . Subscription to the magazine ($45/yr individual; $25/yr student $75/yr library; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Rlmmakers (ATVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video, 304 Hudson S t, NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 463-8519; [email protected], http://www.aivf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.

Publication of The Independent is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsemer*

AYF/FIYF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad.

Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation ;or Indepcdent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index.

© Foundation for Independent Video & Film , Inc. 1998

AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner, executive director, LaTrice Oixon, members!) p,'advocacy assistant Leslie Reids, membership coordinator; Jodi Magee, development consultant Johnny McNair, information services coordinator; Tommy Pallotta, webraste;, Leslie Singer, director of administration, I Wang,, m eroeish-p assoc.ate.

AIVF/FIVF legal counsel-. Robert I. Freedman, Esq., Leavy, Rosensweig & Hyman

AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Todd Cohen*, Loni Oing (co-president), Barbara Hammer, Ruby Lerner (ex officio), Graham Leggat Peter Lewnes, Richard Linklater, Cynthia Lopez*. Jim McKay. Oiane Markrow (secretary), Laala Matias*. Robb Moss 'chair), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus*, Barton Weiss (co-president), Susan Wittenberg (vice president).

* FIVE Board of Directors only

I N SI D EMarch 1998

F E A T U R E S

28 Love It or Leave It: Picking a Film LabWe’ve all been there: the little guy who processes film in dribs and drabs, the lowest man on the totem poll in the film lab’s hierarchy of priorities. Or so it seems. But being a struggling independent doesn’t mean you can’t get a lab’s respect, or its best work.

by D a v i d G i a n c o l a

30 “A film by....”: iAn Interview with Andrew SarrisFilm critic Andrew Sarris, who authored the au teu r theory 35 years ago, assesses its impact on cineastes ever since.

by M a r i o n W o l b e r g W ei s s

32 Deja New: '60s Vérité Meets the '90sA major series organized by Film Forum shows cinema vérite to be more inclusive than most of us realize, digging up little-seen gems by women, Canadians, and blacks, in addition to the household names.

by D e i r d r e B oy l e

THE I NDEPENDENT March 1998


http://www.aivf.org

Cover: A youthful Mick Jagger in the Maysles brothers’ vérité classic, Gimme Shelter. In “Déjà New," author and scholar Deirdre Boyle takes a fresh look at the “direct cinema” films, famous and unknown, of the Sixties. Photo courtesy Film Forum

M E D I A N E W S

9 Media Network FoldsA prominent information clearinghouse and fiscal sponsor since the early eighties, Media Network closes its doors.

by M a u d K e r s n o w s k i

10 Femme Fests Unite in EuropeWhy compete when you can collaborate? Women’s fests take a women’s approach, and the result may help all.

by K a r e n R o s e n b e r g

11 LAIFF Lines up Funds for Lucky FewThe Los Angeles Film Collaborative introduces its new Production Grant Program.

by E mi ly N eye

D I S T R I B U T O R S F A Q

14 Lions Gate Films/CFPWith a new name, new distribution head, and full slate, Lions Gate comes out roaring.



16 Tracking the HamptonsNow in its 5th year, this festival still

hedges on the question: industry action or tourist attraction?


18 Let It Snow:The Denver Film Festival Turns 20While events were snowed out and memory lane ice-covered, O liver managed show its pioneering grit during this year's anniversary edition.

by W i ll A n n e t t

21 Bless the Beasts:The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film FestivalNatural history filmmakers on the prowl for buyers and coproducers can find fertile hunting grounds at this festival.

by C a r l M roz e k

26 Where’s the Alternative? The Media & Democracy Congress

When progressive journalists and media activists came

together at this second annual congress, they weren’t always speaking the same language.

We asked participants: Where's the common ground?

by L a T r i c e D i xon

T A L K I N G H E A D S

36 Glen Salzman & Magnus Isaacson; Michael Almereyda; Wayne Wangby M a u r e e n M a r o v i t c h , A n t h o n y K a u f m a n &. H a n k K im

W I R E D B L U E Y O N D E R

40 HIgh Bandwidth Arrives, SlowlySeveral emerging technologies promise filmmakers the band-width they need. W ill th e y w o r k ?

by A da m P i nc us

42 Storytellers Embrace the WebAlready a resource, the Web is also growing into a promising new medium for experimentation and entertainment.

by L a u r a K n o t t

44 I N & O U T O F P R O D U C T I O N

47

F E S T I V A L S54

N O T I C E S 49 C L A S S I F I E D S63

A I V F H A P P E N I N G S

APRIL 1998S3.95 us $5.25 can

th e in d ep en d en t

FILM & V IDEOmonthly

Woody Allen: On the Rood Againin Barbara Kopple's Wildman Blues

plus: Reports from Sundance, IFFCONDigital Tech on Set


the independent

FILM & VIDEOApril 1998

P ub lisher Ruby Lerner


M anaging Editor: Ryan Deussing

Editorial Assistant: Cassandra Uretz

C ontributing Editors: Lissa Gibbs, Luke Nones, Barbara Bliss

Osborn, Thomas P allo tta, Rob Rownd, Robert L. Seigel, Esq


Advertising: Laura D. Davis (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 225

•

National D istrib u tio n : Total C irculation (M a n h a tta n ) (2 0 1 ) 3 4 2 -6 3 3 4 ;

Ingram Periodicals (8 0 0 ) 6 2 7 -6 2 4 7



The Independent Film & Video Monthly. 304 Hudson S t, NY. NY 10013.

The Independent Film 8 Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVE), a nonprofit tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine '$45 /yr individual: $25/yr student S75/yr library; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video, 304 Hudson S t, NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-140 0 ; fax: (212) 463-8519, [email protected]; h ttp y/www.arvf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.

Publication of The Independent is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency Publication of any advertisement in The Independent dees not constitute an endorsement AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad.

letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Repnnts require written permission and acknowledgement of the articles previous

appearance in The Independent The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index

© Foundation for Independent Vdeo 8 Film, Inc. 1998

AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner, executive director; LaTrice Oixon. membe'ship'advocacy

associate; Leslie Fields, membership coordinator,- Jodi Magee, development consultant Johnny McNair, information services coordinator; Tommy Pallotta. webmaster, Leslie Singer, director of abimnistration; I Wang. membership assistant Marya Wethers, membership assistant

AIV F/FIVF legal counsel: Robert I. Freedman, Esq., Leavy, Rosensweig & Hyman

AIVF/FI V Board of Directors: Todd Cohen’ . Lorn Oing (co-president). Barbara Hammer, Ruby Lerner (ex officio), Graham Leggat Peter Lewnes, Richard Unklater, Cynthia Lopez’ . Jim McKay, Diane Markraw (secretary), laa la Matias*, Robb Moss (chair), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus*. Barton We:ss (co-p'esident), Susan Wittenberg (vice president).

* FIVF Board of Directors only

IN S I D EApril 1 9 9 8

F E AT URE S

26 Barbaia Kopples Lessons in LongevityIn 1976, Barbara Kopple burst onto the scene vufli her searing labor documentary Hiirhm County, U.S.A. For the next two decades, she has managed to produce a steady stream of work— on average, a film a year. Her most recent, Wildman Blues, is a behind-the-scenes look at Woody Allen’s European jazz tour.

by Pa t r i c i a T h o m s o n

31 The Lure of HomicidePerhaps it’s because a film director,

B a rry L e vin so n , s tarted the series.

But whatever the reason, NBC’s Homicide has put out the welcome mat for independents.

by M ax J. A lvarez


http://www.arvf.org

and Woody Allen and wife-to-be Soon-Yi Previn take a breather from the paparazzi in Venice during Allen's European jazz tour, documented by

Photo courtesy Fine Line Features

5 Footage ’97: They Wrote the BookThat old standby, Footage ’8 9 , is old news. In with the new. Footage ’97 makes its debut.

by C a s s a n d r a U re tz

D I S T R I B U T O R F . A . Q .

8 Milestone Film & VideoFive years ago, Milestone started out by distributing a package of silent films. It has since grown to include recent films alongside the classics in its roster, both homegrown and foreign.



10 Tony Barbieri, Greg Sax & American Cinematheque’s Margot Gerber

by H ol l y W i l l i s &. A my G o o d m a n


14 Treasure Huntingat Sundance ’98

T h e Independent goes on record with its second annual awards list, highlighting all kinds of hidden treats.

by C a r a M e r t e s &.Pa t r i c i a T h oms o n

18 The $6 Million ManAn acquisition deal at Sundance is every filmmaker’s dream. So what’s it like to get one— with Miramax, no less?Next Stop W onderland director Brad Anderson describes the surreality of it all.

b y B r a d A n d e r s o n

19 Maverick Movies: Slamdance ’98Up Main Street in Park City, Slamdance carries on— and comes of age.

by R uby L e r n e r

21 Hills and Valleys: An IFFCON’98 DiaryHow a documentarian fares at the annual international cofinancing conference in San Francisco.

by R o b e r t M. G o o d m a n

24 Shorts in StyleNew York’s Shorts International Film Festival debuts with aplomb.

by C a s s a n d r a U retz

I N F O C U S

35 Digital GentrificationHow digital products are spreading to the film set.

by R ob R o wn d



39 IN & OUT OF P R O D U C T I O N

52 NOT I CE S

64 AI VF H A P P E N I N G S

MAY 1998$3.95 us $5.25 can

the INDEPENDENT

$ 3 . 9 5

F I L M & V I D E O

Off the Beaten Path with the

SUPERSU PER 8Film Festival

ALSO:Million Dollar ScriptsOnline Independents

From Martha Colburns super 8 film, Evil of Dracula


the independent

FILM & VIDEOmonthly

May 1998VOLUME 21, NUMBER 4


Editor in Chief. Patric ia Thomson leditor@ aivf orgl

M anaging Editor: Ryan Deussinglm d e p e n d e n t@ a aivf.orgl

Editorial A ssistant: Cassandra Uretzin d e p e n d e n t@ a iW .o rg |

C ontributing Editors: Lissa Gibbs, M ark J. Huism an, Barbara Bliss Osborn, Thomas P a llo tta , Rob Rownd, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.

A n Director: Daniel Christm as

A dvertising: Laura D. Davis (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 225; ld is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o r g l

•

N ational D istrib utio n: Total C irculation (M an ha tta n) (2 0 1 ) 3 4 2 -6 3 3 4 ;



POSTMASTER- Send address changes to:

The Independent Film 4 Video Monthly, 304 Hudson 9 . , NY, NY 10013.

The Independent Film & Video M onth'/ (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofi, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazre ($45/yr individual; $25/yr student; $75/yr library; S$100/y r nonprofit organization: $150/yr businesVindustry) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the

national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video, 304 Hudson St., NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax (212) 463-8519; independent@ aiW .org; www.aiW.org Periodical Postage Paid at Ne.v York NY, and at additional mailing offices.

Publication of The Independent is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement AIVF/F1VF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad.

Letters to The Independent should be sent to [editor@ aivf.org. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent. The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index

© Foundation for Independent Video A Film, Inc. 1998

AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner. executwe director-. LaTrice Dixon, membership/advocacy associate; Leslie Reids, membership coordinator; Jod Magee development consultant Johnny McNair, information services coordinator; Tommy Pallotta, webmaster, Leslie Snger, director of administration; Manra Wethers, membership assistant

AIVF/F IVF legal counsel: Robert I. Freedman, Esq., Leavy, Rosensweig & Hyman

AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Todd Cohen*, Loni Ding (co-president), Barbara Hammer. Ruby Lerner (ex officio), Graham Leggat, Peter Lewres, Richard Linklater. Cynthia Lopez*, Jim McKay, Diane Markrow (secretary), Laala Mat as*, Robb Moss (chair), Robert Richter (treasurer). James Schamus*, Barton Weiss (co-president), Susan Wittenberg (vice president).

* FIVF Board of Directors only.

I N S I D EMay 1998

FEATURES

32 Paying the Price for Independence:Media Activism in South Korea

Media activists in the U.S. like to think o f themselves as outlaws, but what if they really were breaking the law? That prospect is what Korean documentary makers face daily, along with the threat and at times the reality o f jail. Nonetheless, a documentary community is growing there. BY DEIRDRE BOYLE

36 Asphalt AdventuresThese aren’t your typical road movies, nor is the Super Super 8 Film Festival your normal festival, with its bingo games, live music, and traveling van. A n insider’s view of taking small format films on the road. BY KATE H a U G

THE I NDEPENDENT May 1998


http://www.aiW.org

M E D I A N E W S

9 Documentaries No More: NYCH Well Runs DryWith, the stoppage of preproduction grants, the N ew York Council on the Humanities gets out o f the film funding business altogether.

by Mark J.H ui sman

12 Want Scripts, Will Pay:KASA Reels in Screenwriters with Big MoneyScreenwriters take note: a cool million is up for grabs.

by C a s s a n d r a U retz


13 Vanguard International CinemaBuilding a business as an indie-friendly home video distributor.

by L i ss a G ibbs


16 Stan Brakhage,Odette Springer &Carlos Marcovichby J eremy S p r i n g e r ,C ara M e'rtes &.M i chell e C hase


22 At Center Ring: Inside Rotterdam's CineMartA close look at what it’s like to pitch your projects at this venerable indie market. Plus, Rotterdam’s quirky sidebars.

by H oward F ei ns tei n .

28 Have Presskit, Will Travel: The ’98 Berlmale.A report from the floor at the queen of European markets for independent film. ,

by R yan D e u s s i ng

(


41 Online Independents: A Web GuideSearch AltaVista for “independent film” and what do you get/

Try 15,0 6 3 links. Here are the ones you should know about.

by K r i s t i n e Malden



56 NOT I CE S

64 AI VF H A P P E N I N G SCover still from Evil o f Dracula, and (left) A Toetally Soleful Feeture Pedsentation, by Super 8 filmmaker Martha Colburn whose works regularly appear in the Super Super 8 testCourtesy filmmaker

JUNE 1998$3.95 us $5.25 can

t h e independentf i l m & v i d e o

monthly

Gamblin' ManHow lorry Meistrich & the Shooting Gallery plan to redefine the New York production scene

the IndependentFILM & VIDEOMONTHLY

June 1998VOLUME 21, NUMBER 5

Publisher Ruby Lerner

Editor in Chief Patricia Thomsone d ito r @ a iv f.o r g

M anaging Editor: Ryan Deussm g[ ind e p e n d e n t@ a iv f.o rg ]

Editorial Assistant: Cassandra Uretz[ ind e p e n d e n t@ a iv f.o rg l

C ontributing Editors. Lissa Gibbs, Mark J. Huism an, Barbara B liss Osborn, Thom as P allo tta. Rob Rownd, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.

Art Director: Daniel Christm as

A dvertising. Laura D. Davis (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 22 5; l d is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o r g ]

A rtic les from The In dependent are archived o n lin e at l w w w .elibrary.com ]

•

N ational D istrib utio n: Total C irculation (M a n h a tta n ) (2 0 1 ) 3 4 2 -6 3 3 4 ;




The Independent Film 4 Video Monthly. 304 Hudson S I, NY. NY 10013.

The Independent Film 4 Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FTVF). a nonprofit tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($45/yr individual. $25/yr student S75/yr library; $100/y r nonprofit organization; $150/yr businesstindustry) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. 304 Hudson S t. Nv NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 463-8519; indepen dent® aivf.org; www.aivf.org

Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY. and at additional mailing offices.

Publication of The Independent is made possible in part with public funds from the New

York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for tne Arts, a federal agency Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement AIVFI VF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad

Letters to The Independent should be sent to leditor@ aivf.orgl. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index.

$ Foundation for Independent Video 4 Film, Inc. 1998

AIVF/FIVF staff Ruby Lerner. executive director; LaTrice Dixon, membership/advocacy associate, Leslie Fields, membership coordinator; Jodi Magee, development consultant Johnny McNair, information services coordinator; Tommy Pallotta. webmaster. Leslie Singer, director of administration; Marya Wethers, membership assistant

AIVF/FIVF legal counsel. Robert I. Freedman, Esq, Leavy. Rosensweig 4 Hyman

AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors. Todd Cohen’ . Lorn Ding (co-president). Barbara Hammer, Ruby Lerner (ex officio), Graham Leggat Peter Lewnes. Richard bnklater. Cynthia Lopez', Jim McKay, Diane Markrow (secretary). Laala Matias’ . Robb Moss (chair), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus’ . Barton Weiss (co-president). Susan Whtenberg (vice president).’ FIVF Board of Directors ony

INSIDE June 1998

FE A T U R E S

The Value ofHow a screenwriter/ actor/theater director made the transition to movie director— and an invaluable feature film test— without four years o f film school.

by J ames E. Ryan

25 Handover to the MillenniumIndependent video from Hong Kong and Mainland China are as different as night and day. But both can teach us something.

by D e i r d r e B oy l e

30 Hot Shop: The Shooting GalleryThe Shooting Gallery, once a scrappy indie

production company, is now a Big Player with Big Plans. It has five subsidiary companies

servicing filmmakers, plus a deal to build the world’s largest studio and backlot.

Larry Meistrich and Brandon Rosser spell it all out.

by M a r k J. H u i s m a n

THE I NDEPENDENT June 1998


http://www.elibrary.com

http://www.aivf.org

Cover: Larry Meistrich, cofounder and CEO of the Shooting Gallery.Cover photo & below: Tom LeGoff

5 L E T T E R S

M E D I A N E W S

And the Winner Isn’t... Documentaries and the OscarsThe rules keep changing, and it’s not getting any easier. But now the International Documenary Association is helping docs qualify.

by C a r a M e r t e s

9 NW Exhibition Grant No Grand IllusionMore than a standard arthouse, Seattle’s Grand Illusion shells out money and know-how to assist local independents bow theatrically. by N o e l i a S a n t o s


12 Frameline Distribution

Born of “hippie homos" in the seventies, Frameline is now a leading distributor for lesbian and gay media, and is running strong. by L i s s a G i bbs


14 Lisa Cholodenko, Quentin Lee & Justin Lin, and Joel Meyerowitzby L a w r e n c e F e r b e r , H olly W i l l i s , a n d A n d r e a M ey e r

I N F O C U S

A Digital Video PrimerThe first is a series of articles introducing readers to the world of digital video and tracking the journey from script to screen.

by R ob R own d

36S p e c i a l s e c t i o n

THE AIVF SAONS

A news grassroots movement?A burgeoning media infrastructure for

the millennium? At the very least, AIVF’s 20 salons are an expression of the tremendous vitality of the indepedent media field and the need to connect.

In this section, the salons are profiled and organizing lessons proffered.

by R uby L e r n e r , M i c h e l e F o r m a n , M a x A l v a r e z & L e s l i e F i el ds

49 IN & OUT OF P R O D U C T I O Nby C a s s a n d r a U r e t z



60 NOT I CES


#

JULY 1998$ 3 . 9 5 us $ 5 . 2 5 c a n

the in d e p e n d e n t

film & v id e o

SPECIAL I S S U Eexperimental media

Indie Sci~Fi

Also:Trinh T. Minh-ha Jonas Mekas Video Data Bank Canyon Cinema & more

Tilda Swinton in Conceiving Ada FOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND FILM

the mdeoendent

FILM & VIDEOJuly 1998

VOLUME 21, NUMBER 6


Editor in Chief- Patricia Thomsonl e d ito r @ a iv f.o r g ]

M anaging Editor: Ryan Deussing, Paul Powerl i ndep end ent@ a iv f .o r g ]

Editorial A ssista nt: Cassandra Uretzlm d e p e o d e o t@ a iv f.o r g ]

In te rn : Scott C astle

C ontribu ting Editors: Lissa Gibbs. Mark J. Huism an, Barbara B liss Osborn, Thom as P a llo tta , Rob Rownd, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.


A dvertising: Laura D. Davis (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 22 5; l d is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o r g ]

A rtic les from The in depen dent are archived o n lin e at I ww w.elibrary.com l

•




POSTMASTER. Send address changes to:


The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and F ilm (FIVF), a

nonprofit tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscnption to the magazine (S45/yr individual: $25/tyr student S75/yr library; $100/yr nonprofit organization; S150/yr business'industry) is included in annual mem

bership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video, 304 Hudson S t, NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 463-8519; indepen dent® aivf.org; www.aivf.org


Publication of The Independent is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad.

Letters to The Independent should be sent to leditor@ aivf.orgl. letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article’s previous

appearance in The Independent The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index.


AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner, executive director; LaTrice Dixon, membership/advocacy associate; Leslie Reids, membership coordinator; Jodi Magee, development consultant Johnny McNair, information services coordinator; Thomas Pallotta, webmaster, Leslie Singer, director of administration; Marya Wethers, membership assistant

AIVF/FIVF legal counsel: Robert I. Freedman, Esq., Leaiy, Rosensweig & Hyman

AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors.- Todd Cohen*. Loni Ding (co-president), Barbara Hammer, Ruby Lerner (ex officio), Graham Leggat, Peter Lewnes, Richard Unklater, Cynthia Lopez*, Jim McKay, Diane Markrow (secretary), Laala Matias*, Robb Moss 'chair), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus*, Barton Weiss (co-president), Susan Wittenberg (vice president). * FIVF Board of directors only.

I N S I D EJuly 1998

Experi mental Media

24 From the Avant-Garde ArchivesN ew works by Jonas Mekas, Steve Yaeger, and Laura Cottingham preserve and recycle precious images from the early days o f experimental film and video in the U.S.

by M a x A l v a r e z , J e r e m y L e h r e r , C a r a M e r t e s

28 Love & Country: An Interview with Trinh T. Minh-ha

Why a noted experimental filmmaker takes the plunge into 35mm fiction film— and a love story (of sorts).

by M a r g a r e t K elly

32 NoFX: The Rise of Indie Sci Fi

Low-cost high-tech (along with old-fashioned imagination) is bringing the science fiction genre within reach of enterprising independents.

by A n t h o n y K a u f m a n

Cover: Tilda Swinton as Ada Lovelace, inventor of the first computer program, in Lynn Hershman-Leeson’s Conceiving Ada, one of a new breed of low-budget indie sci-fi films. Photo courtesy filmmaker

T H E I N D E P E N D E N T July 1 9 9 8





http://www.elibra

http://www.aivf.org

M E D I A N E W S

4 I Want My DTVWill the Gore Commission let noncommercial independents get their hands on digital television?



10 Video Data BankWith over 5,000 titles, Video Data Bank is one of the largest distributors of video art and one of the oldest.

by L i s s a G i b b s


7 Lawrence Brose,Lewis Klahr,Vicky Funari

by L a w r e n c e F e r b e r ,C a r a M e r t e s ,Pa t r i c i a T h o m s o n


13 Artbytes: New Television Moves into Cyberspace

Though broadcast aquisitions are on hold, N TV funds are enabling filmmakers to experiment in online media.

BY W I L L A MA I N S OMMA

T H E F E S T I V A L C I R C U I T

16 Where Video Is King:The Dallas Video Fest

The largest festival devoted exclusively to video, the Dallas Video Festival deserves a badge of honor.

by C hri s V o g n a r

18 Invideo ’98A growing European showcase for experimental video and new media happens in Milan, now every year.

by C a r o l a S p a don i

20 Go SXSW: Bigger and Better in TexasCentered around a substantial conference, SXSW ’s film component is gathering strength and followers.


22 Chick Flicks-. New York Women’s Film FestivalTake a seventies idea, give it to a nineties planning committee, and this is what you’ve got. BY K a t e H a u g


36 Canyon Cinema: A History Worth Remembering

Founded in 1961, the experimental film distributor Canyon Cinema has a resiliency that keeps it strong. It weathered the on-set of home video, an assault from the flank by the NEA, and other hazards of nonprofit life in the trenches. And it keeps going . . . and going . . . .


42 The Saga of Super 8: How the Wheel of Fortune Goes ’round

A major retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art finally gives small-format film a mainstream showcase— and a chance to reflect on the rise and potential demise of super 8.

by D o n n a C a m e r o n



56 NOT I CES


Ju ly 1 9 9 8 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T


S3. 95c a nindependent film & video

Smoke Signalsand the Art of Adaptation

Also:JOHN PIERSON

MATTHEW HARRISONBUDGETINGS O F T W A R E

LICENSINGFOR STUDENT FILMS


the independent

FILM & VIDEOmonthly

August/September 1998 VOLUME 21, NUMBER 7

P u b lis h e r Ruby Lerner

Editor in Chief: Patricia Thomson[ e d ito r @ a iv f.o r g ]

M anaging Editor: Paul Power[ in d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f.o rg ]

Editorial A ssista nt: Scott Castle[ in d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f.o rg ]

C ontribu ting Editors: Lissa Gibbs, Mark J. H uism an, Barbara Bliss Osborn, Thom as P allo tta, Rob Rownd, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.

Art D irector: Daniel Christm as

A dvertising: Laura D. Davis (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 22 5; l d is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o r g ]

A rticles from The In dependent are archived o n lin e at l w w w .elibrary.com )

•






The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FMT, a

nonprofit tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film . Subscription to the magazine ($45/yr individual; $25/yr student $75/yr library;

$100/y r nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AFVF) the

national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video, 304 Hudson S t, NY. NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fa x (212) 463-8519 independent® aivf.org ; www.aivf.orgPeriodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.

Publication of The Independent is made possible in part with public funds from the New

York State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts a federal agency Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad.

Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor Letters may be edited for

length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the articles previous

appearance in The Independent The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index

© Foundation for independent Video & Film , Inc. 1998

AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner, executive director; LaTrice Dixon, membership/advocacy associate; Leslie Reids, membership coordinator; Jodi Magee, development consultant Johnny McNair, information services coordinator; Thomas Pallotta, webmaster Leslie Singer, director of administration; Marya Wethers, membership assistant


AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Todd Cohen*, Loni Ding (co-president), Barbara Hammer, Ruby Lerner (ex officio), Graham Leggat Peter Lewnes, Richard Unklater, Cynthia Lopez*, Jim McKay Diane Markraw 'secretary), taala M atias*, Robb Moss (chair), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus*. Barton Weiss (co-president), Susan Wittenberg (vice president). * FIVF Board of Directors only

I N S D EAugust/September 1998

30 And Now a Word with John PiersonJohn Pierson, a prime mover and shaker within the independent film world and author of Spike, M ik e, Slackers an d D ykes, d isc u ss Split Screen, his successful series on independent film and filmmakers, now in its second season on the Independent Film Channel.

by A n t h o ny Kaufman

32Great Adaptations: How to Nab that NovelPlanning a screen adaptation of your favorite Great American Novel? Check out the basics you’ll need to know when optioning a book— and the pitfalls to avoid.

by J o a n n a S a b a l

36By th e Numbers:A Budget Breakdown for Matthew HarrkonJ Rhythm ^ ^ MDirector Matthew Harrison dusts oft the accountant’s ledger for Rhythm T h ie f, shot in 1 1 days for 1 1 grand (or a bit over). Now out on video, the film offers a case study in how a low-budget feature can actually remain low budget.

by A a r o n K r a c h

39 A Fulfilling Opportunity.- Transit Media’s Bernie AmpelSelf-distributing filmmakers take note: You needn’t toil alone. There’s someone out there to store and ship tapes, invoice buyers, collect money, and take care of the nitty-gritty of business. In this interview, Bernie Ampel explains how his fulfillment service works.

by I o a n n is M o o k a s

THE I NDEPENDENT August/September 1998




http://www.aivf.org

7 L E T T E R S

M E D I A N E W S

8 Color Television: The PBS Television Race Initiative

We take a look at a new initiative on public TV that uses independent film as a catalyst to provoke dialogue on the issue of race in America, leading off with Macky Alston’s provocative documentary Fam ily N a m e.


9 circuits@nys: The Governor’s Arts and Technology Conference

Whether there’s room for new media/technology and art to co-exist harmoniously was one of the issues discussed at the NYSCA and NYFA-sponsored conference on arts and technology.

by G a r y O. L a r s o n


12 The SyncLike to see Internet films? Ever been part of a global viewing experience? Check out The Sync— the U.S.’s primary online distributor— and their other audio and video services.


F E S T I V A L C I R C U I T

15 Indies on Parade:The Los Angeles Independent Film Festival

Only four years old, the LA IFF has attained phenomenal success and stature very quickly. But where’s the edge?

by T h o m a s Pa l l o t t a

16 Heating Up: Taos Talking Picture Festival

Taos competition winners receive plots of land in New Mexico— one reason why this is among the hottest, fastest- growing festivals around.


18 Turning 20:The Women’s Film Fest at Creteil

Although the late night discussions and debates have diminished somewhat over the past 20 years, this French festival still has a commitment to the best of womens’ world cinema. BY B a r b a r a H a m m e r


20 Danger: High ClearanceStudent Films on the Commercial Market

Just because OF Blue Eyes is in the grave doesn’t mean you can plunder his musical treasure trove for your student film. Find out how to go about clearing musical rights the right way, not My Way.

by Lynn M. E r m a n n

24


Virtual Theater: A New Venue for New Media

D.Vision’s New Venue is a newly established online viewing site for a variety of film and video work, featuring a new piece each week.

BY W ILLAMAIN SOMMA

I N F O C U S

26 Dollars & Sense:A Budgeting Software Roundup

Four of the top budgeting packages for independent filmmakers are compared, contrasted, and assessed on the basis of cost, efficiency, ease of use and suitability for the task in hand.

by R o b e r t M. G o o d m a n


43 Chain of Title: How Not to Get ShackledClearance isn’t just a hurdle for music rights— the paper chain of title holds a project together, but is only as strong as its weakest link.

by R o b e r t L. S e i ge l

4 4 F R E S H P R O D U C E


52 C L A S S I F I E D S 56 NOT I CES 64 AI VF F H A P P E N I N G S

Cover: Evan Adams (I) with Adam Beach in a scene from Smoke Signals directed by Chris Eyre. Photo: Courtnay Duchin, courtesy Miramax See articles on pages 16 & 32.

OCTOBER 1998$3.95 us $5.25 canthe independentF I L M & V I D E O

monthly

The Farmer's WifePBS & Long-Form Documentary

SPECIAL FOCUS: DOCUMENTARY TODAY

THE FARM THE CRUISE

RUTH 0ZEKI JUDITH HELFAND

THIRD WORLD NEWSREEL


the independentFILM & VIDEO

MONTHLYOctober 1998

VOLUME 21, NUMBER 8

P ub lisher. Ruby Lerner

Editor in C hief Patricia Thomsone d ito r@ a iv f.o rg

M anaging Editor Paul Power| in d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f org l

Editorial A ssistant. Scott Castle( in d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f org)

C ontributing Editors: Lissa Gibbs. Mark J. Huism an, Barbara B liss Osborn, Rob Rownd, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.


A dvertising: Laura D. Davis (2 1 2 ) 80 7 1 4 00 x 22 5; (d is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o r g )

A rticles from The In dependent are archived o n lin e at [w w w .elibrary com]

•

N ational D istrib utio n: Total C irculation (M an ha tta n) (2 0 1 ) 3 4 2 -6 3 3 4 ,



POSTMASTER.- Send address changes to:

The Independent Film 4 Video Monthly, 304 Hudson S t. NY. NY 10013.

The Inoeperuent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Vdeo and Film (FTVF), a nonprofit tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student- $75/yr library. $100/yr nonprofit organization; $ 150/yr businesVindustry) is included in annual membership dues pa'd to the Association of Independent Vdeo and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national fa d e association of individuals involved in independent film and video. 304 Hudson S t. NY. NY 10013. (212) 807-1400 fax. (212) 463-8519. independent@ arvf.org www.arvf.org

Penodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.

Publication of The independent is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement. AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad.

Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Vdeo and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent The Independent is indexed in the Altemative Press Index.

© Foundation for Independent Video & Film , Inc. 1998

AIVF/FIVF staff Ruby Lerner. executive director; Michelle Coe, information services director; LaTrice Dixon, membership advczacy associate; Eugene Hernandez, webmaster; Jodi Magee, development consultant Vallery Mcore. membership director; Leslie Singer, director of administration.- Marya Wethers, membership assistant

AJVF/FTVF legal counsel; Robert I. Freedman. Esq.. Leavy, Rosensweig & Hyman

AIVF/FTVF Board of Directors: Todd Cohen” . Lorn Ding (co-president), Barbara Hammer. Ruby Lerner (ex officio), Graham Leggai Peter Lewnes. Richard UnkJater. Cynthia Lopez” . Jim McKay. Diane Markrow (secretary), taala M a ta s '. Robb Moss (chair). Robert Richter (treasurer), James Scham us. Barton Weiss (co-presie n t Susan Wittenberg (vice president) * FIVF Board of Directors only

I N S I D EOctober 1998

Features36 Can This Marriage

Be Saved?Reflections on T h e Farm er's W ife and A n A m erica n L o ve Story, two multipart verite series that have found a home on PBS.


40 There and Back AgainDocumentary filmmaker-tumed-author Ruth Ozeki traces her circuitous journey on the byways between the film and publishing worlds.

by R uth L. O zeki

43 Media Activism Up CloseHow much is possible for a filmmaker with an activist agenda? A case study of Judith Helfand and A H ealthy B a b y G irl.

by Ly n n L ov e

46 Life on The FarmJonathan Stack talks about his prison documentary T h e Farm , his success at finding production funding in the cable world, and a filmmaker’s social commitment.

by Pa t A u f d e r h e i d e

pg. 43

pg. 46

THE I NDEPENDENT October 1998

http://www.elibrary

http://www.arvf.org

Departments7 L e t t e r s

8 M e d i a N e w s

October Drops Happiness:Will the Real Independent Distributors Please Stand Up?by A n t h o n y K a u f m a n

NEA/NEH Funding Game Continuesby Ma r k J. H u i s m a n

The X-Ray Files:Frequent Flyers Bewareby S c o t t C a s t l e

Fab Films Says “Konnichiwa”by B a r b a r a S c h a r r e s

Obituaryby Paul Power

16 D i s t r i b u t o r F . A . Q.

Third World NewsreelFounded over 30 years ago as the Newsreel Collective, Third World Newsreel has a rich history of support for producers of color and political film.

by L i s s a G i b b s


Bennett Miller,Alanis Obomsawin,David Shulman, R.S. Bindlerby R i c h a r d B a i m b r i d g e ,J e r r y W h i t e , M. J . N e u b e r g e r , A m y G o o d m a n

24 F i e l d R e p o r t s

The Judgement of PeersDocuClub provides the right atmosphere for workshopping documentaries-in- progress.

by Paul Po we r

pg. 32

F e s t i v a l C i r c u i t

26 Docfest DebutsNew York test bows with new and classic documentaries.

by Mark J . Hui sman

28 Southern HospitalityDuke’s Center tor Documentary launches the DoubleTake Film Festival.

by B i l l Sasser

30 Paris’ Grand Dame of DocThe Cinema du Reel holds court tor its 20th year.

by H e n r y Le we s

32 Dockers Zips up IndiesDockers Khakis enters the film world with its Classically Independent Film Festival.

by M i c h a e l Fox

pg. 28

pg 28


Beam Me Up!Using a satellite hook-up, the digitally shot and edited T h e Last Broadcast is being beamed into arthouses tor its theatrical premiere this month.

by E u g e n e H e r n a n d e z

50 I n F o c u s

A Sound IdeaA look at the rationale behind the position of "sound designer”— and why it never took hold.

by L a r r y L o e w i n g e r

54 F r e s h P r o d u c e

55 F e s t i v a l s 61 C l a s s i f i e d s 64 N o t i c e s

72 A I V F H a p p e n i n g s

pg. 24

pg. 34

Cover: Darrel and Juanita Buschkoetter, a Nebraska farm family which is the subject of David Sutherland’s 7-hour documentary for PBS, The Farmer's Wife.Photo: Joel Sartore, courtesy ITVS/Frontline

October 1998 THE I NDEPENDENT

NOVEMBER 1998the

independentf i l m & v i d e o

Da r kP a s s a g e

B ill Condon's Gods & Monsters

SCRIPTWRITING: SOFTWARE NANTUCKET FEST CINESTORY

OUT OF THE PAST

SLAMNATION!

FUNDRAISING TIPS BUDGET BREAKDOWNS

Ian McKellen as director James Whale and Brennan Fraser as Frankenstein In Gods & Monsters FOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENT VIDEO AND FILM

the i n d e p e n d e n t

FILM & VIDEOMONTHLY

November 1998 VOLUME 21, NUMBER 9


Editor in Chief: Patricia Thomson(e d ito r @ a iv f.o r g l

M anaging Editor: Paul Power( in d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f.o rg )

Editorial A ssista nt: Scott Castlelfe s tiv a ls @ a iv f.o r g l

C ontributing Editors-. Lissa Gibbs, Mark J. Huism an, Barbara Bliss Osborn, Rob Rownd, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.


A dvertising: Laura D. Davis (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 22 5; (d is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o r g )

A rticles from The In dependent are archived o n lin e at ( Iwww.elibrary.com )

•

N ational D istrib u tio n : Total C irculation (M an ha tta n) (2 0 1 ) 3 4 2 -6 3 3 4 ;



POSTMASTER Send address changes to:

The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson S I , NY, NY 10013.

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and

film . Subscription to the magazine ($55/yr individual, $35/yr student $75/yr library: $100/y r nonprofit organization; $ 150/yr business/industry) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video, 304 Hudson St., NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400- «ax: (212) 463-8519; indepen dent® aivf.org: vwvw.aivf.orgPeriodical Postage Paid at New York. NY, and at additional mailing offices.

Publication of The Independent is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Publication of any advertisement in The In dependert does not constitute an endorsement AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad.

Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc.

Repnnts require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent . The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index.

© Foundation for Independent Video & Rlm, Inc. 1998

AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner, executive director, Michelle Coe, information services director; LaTnce Dixon, membership/advocacy associate; Eugene Hernandez, webmaster, Jodi Magee, development consultant Vallery Moore, membership director; Leslie Singer, director of administration; Marya Wethers, membership assistant


AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Todd Cohen*. Loni Ding (co-president), Barbara Hammer, Ruby lerner (ex officio), Graham Leggat Peter Lewnes, Richard Linklater, Cynthia Lopez*, Jim McKay, Diane Markrow (secretary), Laala M atas’ . Robb Moss 'chair), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus*. Barton Weiss 'co-president), Susan Wittenberg (vice president). * FIVF Board of Directors only.

INSIDENovember 1996

P6- 36

Features32 The CineStory StoryWill winning a screenplay competition change your life? Our writer finds out.

by B illy S h e b a r

36 I’ve Created a Monster:Bill Condon on Gods & MonstersDirector Bill Condon traces the path from page to screen of his film on the twilight years of James Whale, director of Frankenstein and The Bride o f Frankenstein

by T om C u n y a

39 Let’s Play MonopolyHave you got a phone, a fax, or an Internet account? If so, then count yourself in as someone who is affected by the latest media mergers.

by M a r k J . H u i s m a n

pg. 32

pg.39

THE I NDEPENDENT November 1998

http://www.elibra

Departments5 M e d i a N e w s

Windy FilmsA new Chicago initiative provides support and an outlet for the city’s indies.

b y N a d i n e E k r e t

William Morris Goes IndependentAgencies William Morris and Endeavor set u| new independent operations: a boost for inde pendents or cynical bandwaggoning?

b y A n t h o n y K a u f m a n

Dial “M” for MovieFoneThink you’re already paying enough for movie tickets? Check out reserved seat cinemas.

b y S c o t t C a s t l e

National Geographic Expands HorizonsExpansion of N a tion a l G eograph ic into foreign markets has opened up a new panorama for filmmakers.

by P a u l P o w e r

10 D i s t r i b u t o r F . A . Q. Fox LorberThere’s more than one Fox in this business. Check out the younger one, now expanding to the theatrical market.

b y L i s s a G i b b s

pg.16


Paul Devlin & Jeff Dupreby R i c h a r d B a i m b r i d g e & A a r o n K r a c h

16 F e s t i v a l C i r c u i t

A Real RetreatViewing, debating, and swimming! The Robert Flaherty Film Seminar carries on.

by Liz M e r mi n

Orlando MagicThe Florida Film Festival is now registering on the national festival radar screen.

by S t e v e S c h n e i d e r

Good VIBErationsNow in its second year, the Urbanworld Film Festival goes for the gloss.

by L e s l i e A. F i el ds

Into the WestIf you feel like hammering out your distribution deal over a pint beside a West of Ireland river, then the Galway Film Fleadh is for you.

by Paul Power

26 S c r e e n c r a f t

A Wordsmiths’ GetawayWith its focus on screenplays, the Nantucket Film Festival provides a haven for film scribes.

by A llen C hou

A Word to the ScreenwriterBamboozled by all the screenplay programs on the market? Here’s a rundown of the packages designed to whip your script into format.

by R ob e r t G o o d m a n

42 T he B o t t o m L i n e

Show Me the Money!Pointers from fundraising guru Morne Warshawski, who suggests new and interesting places to look for funding on your film.

by L e s l i e S. O s b o r n e

Budget BreakdownsA few do’s and don’ts for screenwriters and aspiring producers, designed to keep both of you sane.

by D e b o r a h D e n n i s o n


Virtually EducationalA movie education from your swivel-chair? We review the CD-ROM “How to Make Your Movie: An Interactive Film School.”

by A dam P i n c u s

49 F e s t i v a l s

53 C l a s s i f i e d s

55 N o t i c e s


pg. 22

Cover: On the set of Bill Condon’s God and Monsters, a dramatic feature based on the later years of Frankenstein director James Whale. Courtesy Lions Gate Releasing

November 1998 THE I NDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 1998theindependentf i l m & v i d e o

monthly

StardustMemoriesTodd H aynes'Velvet Goldmine

FOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENT V IDEO AN D FILM

the i n d e p e n d e n t

FILM & VIDEOMONTHLY

December 1998 VOLUME 21, NUMBER 10


Editor in C hief: Patricia Thomson( e d it o r @ a iv f .org)

M anaging Editor: Paul Power( in d e p e n d e n t@ a iv t.o rg )

Listings Editor: Scott Castle( fe s tiv a ls @ a iv t.o r g )

Intern: G esha-M arie Bryant

C ontribu ting Editors: Lissa Gibbs, Mark J. Huism an, Barbara B liss Osborn, Rob Rownd, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.


A dvertising D irector: Laura D. Davis (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 2 2 5 ld is p la y a d s @ a iv t.o r g l

A d vertis ing Rep..- Scott C astle x. 229 [ s c o tt@ a iv f.o r g ]

A rticles from The In depend ent are archived o n lin e at [ w w w .elibrary.com ]

•

N a tion al D istrib u tio n : Total C irculation (M a n h a tta n ) (2 0 1 ) 3 4 2 -6 3 3 4 ;




The Independent Film & V deo Monthly, 304 Hudson S t, NY, NY 10013.

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except Febmary and Septerser by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVE), a nonprofit tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student- $ 75/yr library; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150l/yr business/industry) i s included in annual mem

bership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video 304 Hudson S t, NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400 fax.- (212) 463-8519; indepen dent® aivf.org; www.aivf.org

Periodical Postage Raid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.

Publication of The Independent is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Ads,

a federal agency. Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad.

Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and film , Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent. The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index.

© Foundation for Independent Video & film , Inc. 1998

AIVF/FIVF staff: Ruby Lerner, executive director; Mi chelle Coe. information services director; LaTrice Dixon, membership/advocacy associate; Eugene Hernandez, webmaster; Jodi Magee, development consultant,- Vallery Moore, membership director; Leslie Singer, director of administration; Marya Wethers, membership assistant

AIVF/F IVF legal counsel.- Robed I. Freedman, Esq., Leavy, RosensweigJ. Hyman

AIVF/FI F Board of Directors: Todd Cohen", Lorn Ding (co-president), Barbara Hammer, Ruby Lerner (ex officio), Graham Leggat Peter Lewnes, Richard Linklater, Cynthia Lcpez", Jim McKay, Diane Markrow (secretary), Laala Mati a s , Robb Moss (chair), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus* , Barton Weiss (co-president), Susan Wittenberg (vice president). * FIVF Board of Directors only

inside December 1998

32

Features32 Stardust Memories: Todd Haynes Recreates the Velvet RevolutionEver since casting Barbie dolls in his film on Karen Carpenter, Todd Haynes hasn’t been afraid to take risks. Here he talks about Velvet G oldm in e, his dazzling vision of a world where Oscar Wilde and Glam Rock collide.

by A a r o n K r a c h

37 “Don’t Miss the Horses!” An interview with author Scott MacDonaldMacDonald’s three C ritica l C in em a books have been an essential tool for anyone teaching or practicing avant- garde film.

by Ly n n S a c h s37

THE I NDEPENDENT December 1998

http://www.elibrary.coml

http://www.aivf.org

Departments4 M e d i a N e w s

Documentaries 24-7The Documentary Channel launches with the promise of docs around the clock.


8 F e s t i v a l C i r c u i t

IFFM— Caveat EmptorCelebrating its 20th anniversary, the Independent Feature Film Market screened a series of its past “hits.” But were buyers optimistic about finding the next C le rk s?

by Pa u l Po we r

10 The Canuck ReportFilm after film at the Toronto International Film Festival was populated by dysfuctional self-saboteurs, setting up an interesting resonance with the goings-on in Washington.

by Pa t r i c i a T h o ms o n

14 All Over the Map:L.A. Freewaves Gets WheelsThis biennial event is as adventurous as ever, with installations, CD-ROMs, and even video tour buses added to the festival mix.

by J a m e s M o r a n

16 The Sarajevo Film FestivalIndependent production in war-torn Bosnia somehow has managed to emerge from the wreckage, as seen at this year’s festival.

by H o w a r d F e i n s t e i n a n d Pa u l M a l c o l m

16

21 R e g i o n a l F o c u s : G e o r g i a & t h e C a r o l i n a s

Whistlin’ Dixie:A Documentarian’s DiaryThinking of shooting in the South? A first-time documentary maker recounts his experiences shooting a film on the Confederate flag.


21

24 Athens, Georgia:A Fabled Scene, ReconstructedAthens, with its near-legendary modern musical heritage, has also been the source of much interesting Georgian filmmaking.

by R i c h a r d F a u c e t t

26 Out South:How Gay Filmmakers Fare

26

In spite of its infamous right-wing politicians, North Carolina is the base for a flourishing gay filmmaking scene.

by L a w r e n c e F e r b e r

28 SXSE:The Colossal Film CrawlColumbia, South Carolina, hosted its second annual Colossal Film Crawl in September— a night of bonhomie, pub crawling, storytelling, and, yes, movies!

BY T E R I T Y N E S

29 ProfilesSpotlight on Atlanta’s Peggy Hayes, film director and co-founder of Night of the Black Independents, and North Carolinian educator and videomaker Joe Murphy.

by E l i z a b e t h L e n h a r d & L a w r e n c e F e r b e r

4 0 S C R E E N C R A F T

Ghost WritersConcluding our two-part look at screenwriting software, we examine an assortment of electronic story-structure prompters.

by R o b e r t G o o d m a n

44 T h e B u s i n e s s P a g e s

Roth IRAs:The Moment of Truth ArrivesYou’ve procrastinated long enough. Now is the month to decide: To Roth or not to Roth?

by S u s a n L ee

45 F r e s h P r o d u c e

46 F e s t i v a l s

52 C l a s s i f i e d s

56 N o t i c e s


Cover: Jonathan Rhys-Meyers in Velvet Goldmine, Todd Haynes’ paean to the Glam Rock era.

Courtesy Miramax; photo Peter Mountain

December 1998 THE I NDEPENDENT

JA N U A R Y /FEB R U A R Y 1 9 9 9 A P ub lication of T he Foun d a tio n fo r In d e p e n d e n t V id eo an d F ilm w w w .a iv f.o rg

the independent film & VIDEO monthly

NEW

LookM

ore INFO

a l HartleyJoins the D igital Revolution

Dogma 99 The Facts in B&W

The Sundance ChannelP.J. H arvey as M ag de len a in H al H artley 's The Book of Life

$3.95 us $5.25 con

http://www.aivf.org

This page is intentionally left blank.TOC page was not found in archive copy.

the lndependent film & VIDEO monthly

Publisher: Ruby Lerner/E lizabeth Peters

Editor in Chief: Patricia Thomson( e d ito r @ a iv f.o r g )

M anaging Editor: Paul Power[ in d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f.o rg ]

Listings Editor: Scott Castle[ fe s tiv a ls @ a iv f.o r g ]

C ontributing Editors: Lissa Gibbs, Gary 0. Larson, Barbara B liss Osborn, Rob Rownd, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.

Design Director: Daniel C hristm asl s ta r tr e e @ x s ite .n e t l

Advertising Director: Laura D. Davis (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 225; [d is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o r g ]

A dvertis ing Rep: Scott Castle (212 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 233;

[s c o tt@ a iv f.o r g ]

A rticles from Tire In dependent are archived o n lin e at [ww w .elibrary.com l

•

N ational D istrib utio n: Total C irculation (M an ha tta n) (20 1) 3 4 2 -6 3 3 4 ;




The Independent Rim & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., NY, NY 10013.

The Independent Rim & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (RVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of

video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student $75/yr library; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) is

included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in

independent film and video, 304 Hudson S t, NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 463-8519; independent@ aivf.org; www.aivf.org


Publication of The Independent is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does

not constitute an endorsement AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad.

Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited

for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index


AIVF/FIVF staff: Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Michelle Coe, information services director; LaTrice Dixon, membership/advocacy associate; Eugene Hernandez, webmaster; Jodi Magee, development consultant Vallery Moore, membership director-, Marya Wethers, membership assistant.

AIVF/FIVF legal counsel: Robert I. Freedman, Esq, Leavy, Rosensweig & Hyman

AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Todd C o h en / Loni Ding (co-president), Barbara Hammer, Elizabeth Pete-' (ex officio), Graham Leggat, Peter Lewnes, Richard Linklater, Cynthia Lopez*, J. T. McKay, Diane Markrow (secretary), Laala Matias*, Robb Moss (chair), Robert R io ter (treasurer), James Schamus*, Barton Weiss (copresident), Susan Wittenberg (v. s president). * FIVF Board of Directors only.

CONTENTSJanuary/February 1999 VOLUME 22, NUMBER 1 www.aivf.org

30Features26 'The Facts in Black & White

There’s been a rash of black-and-white films recently. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of shooting in monochrome. BY Lynn E r mann

30 D i g i t a l V i d e o : Catch the Wave

Digital video is not just on the horizon; it’s here. Hal Hartley and Todd Verow are two filmmakers who have put DV to good use. BY E u g e n e H E R N A N D E Z

33 C h e c k i n g out Film with Video

Libraries used to be a welcoming home for independent media, before education budgets were slashed. Now, it’s still possible to sell your work to libraries— if you know how.

by S t e v e M o n t g o me r y

36 Every Dogma. Has its Day

Inspired by Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg’s controversial Dogma 95, The Independent invited a number of cutting-edge directors to write their own Vows.

by J an A n a n i a , M a t t h e w H a r r i s o n , Lynn H e r s h m a n n - Le e s o n , S c o t t K i n g , C h r i s t o p h e r M u n c h , T ommy Pa l l o t t a , E s t h e r R o b i n s o n , La nce W e i l e r , S t e f an A v a l o s , B ri t t a S j o g r e n , and C aul e e n S mi thTHE I N D E P E N D E N T January/February 1999







http://www.aivf.org

http://www.aivf.org

Upfront4 Publishers' Notes 6 Letters

9 News

Sundance Cinemas breaks ground for its first theaters; Sunny Side of the Doc announces three new initiatives; BET becomes a new source for production funding for black directors; the National Latino Communications Center and the CPB.

by A n t h o n y Ka u f m a n , B e t h a n y H a y e s , R i ta M i c h e l , M ark J. H u i s ma n

16 Festival Circuit

Reviews of the Hot Springs Documentary Festival, Virginia Film Festival, Hamptons International Film Festival, ResFest, and Short Film Festival of Mexico City.

by T im S c h w a b , Pat A u f d e r h e i d e , S c o t t C a s t l e , Ryan D e u s s i n g , M ary S u t t e r

19

Departments22 Cable

The Sundance Channel has recently been revamped, adding four new series to its thematic programming strands.

by S helley Ga b e r t

SUNDANCE

CHANNEL22

F.A.Q. & Info41 Distributor F.A.Q.

In the 12 months since rising from the ashes of LIVE Entertainment, Artisan Entertainment has grown into a serious contender among theatrical distributors. BY L i s s a G i b b s

44 Funder F.A.Q.

The Jerome Foundation is profiled in the debut of this new monthly column on funders. BY M I C H E L L E C O E

46 Festivals 50 Notices 56 Classifieds

@ A IV F60 Events64 Salons65 Trade Discounts

Cover: P. J. Harvey as Magdalena in Hal Hartley's digital biblical fable, The Book o f Life. Opposite: Harvey with Martin Donovan as Jesus.Courtesy Steve Hamilton

41

MARCH 1999 A P ub lication of T he Foun d a tio n fo r In d e p e n d e n t V id eo an d F ilm w w w .a iv f.o rg

the independentFILM & VIDEO MONTHLY

INTERVIEW

with Arthur

Dongon Self-DistributionYour Documentary

St Claire Bourne'sMEN OF VISION

When to Audit You Distributor

First Run/ Icarus Hunting for Euro Dollars

Robeson in E m peror Jones

http://www.aivf.org

the independent F IL M & VIDE O M O N TH LY

Publisher: Elizabeth Peters

Editor in Chief: Patricia Thomsonl e d ito r @ a iv f.o r g l

M anaging Editor; Paul Powerl ir d e p e r d e r t @ a iv f .o r g l

Listings Editor.- Scott Castle[ fe s t iv a ls @ a iv f.o r g l


C ontribu ting Editors: Lissa Gibbs, Gary 0. Larson, Barbara B liss Osborn, Rob Rownd, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.

Design Director: Daniel C hristm asl s t a r tr e e @ x s ite .r e t l

Advertising Director: Laura D. Davis (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 22 5: l d is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o r g l

Advertis ing Rep: Scott C astle (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 23 3;

l s c o tt@ a iv f.o r g l

A rtic les from The In d e p e n d e n t are archived o n lin e at ( ww w .elibrary.com l

•




POSTMASTER. Send address charges to:

The Independent Film & Video Monthly. 304 Hudson S t, 6 f t , NY, NY 10013.

The In d e p e n d e n t F ilm & V ideo M o n th ly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video

and Film (F1VF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) is

included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF). the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact. AIVF, 304

Hudson St., 6 f t , NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 463-8519, independent@ aivf.org; www.aivf.org. Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at

additional mailing offices.

Publication of The In d e p e n d e n t is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency Publication of any advertisement in The

In d e p e n d e n t does not constitute an endorsement AIVF/FIVF are not responsible

for any claims made in an ad.

Letters to The In d e p e n d e n t should be addressed to the editor Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the foundation for Independent Video

and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent. The In d e p e n d e n t is indexed in the A lte rn a tiv e P ress In d ex


AIVF/FIVF staff: Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Michelle Coe, program & information services director, LaTrice Dixon, membership/advocacy associate; Eugene Hernandez, webmaster; Jodi Magee development consultant; Vallery Moore, membership director; Jessica Perez, administrative director, Marya Wethers, membership assistant.

AIVF/FIVF legal counsel Robert I. Fieedman, Esq., Leavy, Rosensweig & Hyman

AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors. Lorn Ding (co-president), Lee Lew-Lee, Graham

Leggat. Ruby Lemer*. Peter Lewnes, Richard Linklater, Cynthia Lopez*. Diane Markrow (secretary), Jim McKay, Robb Moss (chair), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio),

Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus*, Valerie Soe, Barton Weiss (co-president). * FIVF Board of Directors only

CONTENTS

March 1999 VOLUME 22, NUMBER 2 www.aivf.org

3 4

Features28 It’s a Dong DealDocumentary maker Arthur Dong chose to self-distribute Licensed to Kill, despite the many offers that came his way after its success at Sundance ’97. Here he talks about the hows and whys of doing it yourself. BY I A N N I S M O O K A S

32 Elusive Memories, Modern Myths: The Films of Jay AnaniaAs austere as Bresson and elliptical as Ashbury, feature director Jay Ananias latest feature, Long Time Since, occupies challenging turf between fiction, poetry, and myth. BY JEREMY LEHRER

34 Bourne to be WildWith his new film on Paul Robeson for Amencan Masters, producer/director St. Clair Bourne adds another to his list of documentaries on charismatic and controversial black men in the political and cultural arenas. BY RI CHARD B a i m b r i d g e

32

THE I N D E P E N D E N T March 1999




http://www.aivf.org

http://www.aivf.org

Upfront4 NewsNew exhibition venues for indies: the Egyptian Theatre in L.A.; ZKM in Germany; and a crossborder initiative in Montreal and New York City. by S t e p h e n G a r r e t t , G e o r g e F i f i e l d & J e r r y W h i t e12 ProfilesVideo artists John Muse & Jeanne Finley;Celia Dougherty; and Peggy Ahwesh. by I s a b e l S a n d u r i , L y n L o v e & J e r e m y L e h r e r16 Fest CircuitReviews of the International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam and Cofinancing Forum, the Pandaemonium Video Festival, DocCon3, the International Expo of Short Film, and the Thessaloniki Film Festival. by Pa t r i c i a T h o m s o n ,E r n e s t L a r s e n , B a r b a r a B l i s s O s b o r n , G e s h a - M a r i e B r y a n t , a n d C l e o C a c o u l i d i sCover photo courtesy American /Wasfers/WNET

4

14

22

Departments24 Legal Briefs

Think your distributor or sales agent is holding out when it comes time to pay up? Some advice on when to audit your distributor and how to write a contract that makes sure you can.by R o b e r t S e i g e lFAQ & InfoDistributor F.A.Q. 38

Since its creation a dozen years ago,First Run/Icarus has been a major player among nontheatrical distributors. by L i s s a G i b b sFunder F.A.Q. 40

One of the most active of CBP’s minority consortia is the National Asian American Telecommunications Association (NAATA), which funds, exhibits, and distributes Asian American media. by M i c h e l l e C o e

38

Festivals 42

Notices 46

Classifieds 51

58

@ A IV FEvents 56

Info & Resources 58

In & Out of Production 59

Salons 60

Trade Discounts 61

59

March 1999 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

A P R IL 1 9 9 9 A P u b lic a t io n o f T h e F o u n d a tio n fo r In d e p e n d e n t V id e o a n d F ilm w w w .a iv f .o rg


FEATURE

Gill Holland on Picking

Your Producer

T onyBu i's THREE SEASONS& OTHERSUNDANCEWINNERS

The Politics of Exhibition

Digital Preproduction

The Casting Director as Producer

S3 95 us $5.25 can

http://www.aivf.org

the Independent F IL M & VID E O M O N TH LY


Editor in Chief: Patricia Thomsonle d ito r @ a iv f.o r g ]

M anaging Editor: Paul Powerlin d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f.o r g l

Listings Editor-. Scott Castlelfe s tiv a ls @ a iv f.o r g l


C ontribu ting Editors: Richard Baimbridge. M ichelle Coe, Lissa Gibbs, Mark J. Huism an, Gary 0. Larson, Cara Mertes,

Barbara B liss Osborn, Rob Rownd, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.

Design Director: Daniel Christm as lstartree@ xsite.netl

Advertising Director: Laura D. Davis (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 225: ld is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o r g ]

A d vertis ing Rep. Scott C astle (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 233:

ls c o tt@ a iv f.o r g l

A rticles from T h e In d e p e n d e n t are archived o n lin e at lww w.elibrary.com I

•

N ational D istrib utio n: Total C irculation(M an ha tta n) (2 0 1 ) 3 4 2 -6 3 3 4 ;




The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson S t, 6 f t . NY, NY 10013.

The In d ep en d en t F ilm & Video M on th ly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published month

ly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($55/yr individual: $35/yr student, $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) is included in annual

membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and

video. Library and school subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact AIVF, 304 Hudson S t, 6 f t , NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400 fa x (212) 463-8519, indepen dent® aivf.org; www.aivf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at addibonal mailing

offices.

Publication of The Indep endent is made possible in part with public funds from the

New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency Publication of any advertisement in The Independent

does not constitute an endorsement AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims

made in an ad

Letters to The Ind ep en d en t should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent . The Independent is indexed in the

Alternative Press Index.


AIVF/FIVF staff: Elizabeth Peters, executive director Michelle Coe, program & infor

mation services director; LaTrice Oixon, membership/advocacy associate; Eugene Hernandez, webmaster; Jodi Magee, development consultant Jessica Perez, administrative director; Marya Wethers, membership assistant.

AIVF/FIVF legal counsel. Robert I. Freedman. Esq. Leavy. Rosensweig & Hyman

AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Loni Oing (co-president), Lee Lev;-Lee, Graham Leggat, Ruby Lerner*. Peter Lewnes, Richard Linklater, Cynthia Lopez*. Diane Markrow (secretary), Jim McKay, Robb Moss (chair), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio). Robert Richter (treasurer). James Schamus*. Valerie Soe, Barton Weiss (co-president).* FIVF Board of directors only.

CONTENTSApril 1999 VOLUME 22, NUMBER 4 www.aivf.org

26 Recasting the Casting DirectorAs name actors have become more of a necessity for greenlighting independent features, the casting director’s role has grown in importance. Some are now asking for— and getting— producer credits. by A m y G o o d m a n29 Someone to Watch Over MePicking a producer is like hiring your own boss. A veteran independent producer offers some words of advice to novice directors looking for that special someone to produce their films.by G i l l H o l l a n d32 Indie Jones & the Raiders of the Lost ArtHas the artsyplex boom housebroken independent film? An in-depth look at the politics of arthouse exhibition.by R o b N e l s o n

32 26





http://www.aivf.org

http://www.aivf.org

Upfront5 NewsThe Gore Commission Report arrives not with a bang, but a whimper; two new distributors open shop.by G a r y O . L a r s o n , R i c h a r d B a i m b r i d g e10 ProfilesJill Godmilow and Cauleen Smith. by C a r a M e r t e s & K a t e H a Ug12 Fest CircuitHighlights from the Sundance and Slamdance film festivals. by R i c h a r d B a i m b r i d g e , M a r k J . H u i s m a n ,C a r a M e r t e s , Pa t r i c i a T h o m s o n & J a y L o w i e

11

Departments21 BooksShort takes on Christine Vachon’s Shooting to Kill: How an Independent Producer Blasts through the Barriers to Make Movies that Matter andThe Filmmaker’s Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age, by Steven Ascher & Edward Pincus by R o b e r t S e i g e l &R y a n D e u s s i n g22 TechnologyDigital still cameras make their mark on preproduction, revising how to approach storyboarding and location scouting. by R o b r o w n d25 On ViewIndependents opening at a theater or on national television this month.by Pa u l P o w e rFAQ & Info38 Distributor FAQFonned two years ago, Stratosphere Entertainment is a hopeful up-and-comer in the arena of medium'sized theatrical distributors.by L i s s a G i b b s40 Funder FAQThe Creative Capital Foundation, brand new as of January 1999, will be Finding media, among other disciplines. Heading it is former AIVF/FIVF executive director Ruby Lemer.by M i c h e l l e C o e Festivals 42 Notices 48 Classifieds 52

@ A IV FEvents 58Letter to AIVF Members 59 Trade Discounts 60 Salons 61

\ 2 i

26

38

40

58

Cover: Nguyen Ngoc Hiep in Three Seasons, by Tony Bui, which swept three top awards at the Sundance Film Festival. For festival coverage, see pages 12 - 16. Photo courtesy October Films

April 1999 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

M A Y 1 9 9 9 A P u b lic o t io n o f T h e F o u n d o tio n fo r In d e p e n d e n t V id e o o n d F ilm w w w .o iv f.o rgSPECIAL ISSUEPUBLIC TVthe Independent

Film & video MONTHLY

PBS Goes D ig ita l INDIES ON

PUBLIC TV16 Showcases TV Euro Style Films for the

Humanities & Sciences

ITVSRobert X. Cringely, host of PBS's Digital TV: A Cringely Crash Course

$3.95 us $5.25 ca n

http://www.oivf.org

the independent FILM & VIDEO M O N TH LY

P ub lisher: Elizabeth Peters

Editor in C hief: Patricia Thomsonle d ito r @ a iv f.o r g l

Managing Editor: Paul Powerlin d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f.o rg l

Listings Editor: Scott Castlelfe s t iv a ls @ a iv f.o r g l


C ontributing Editors: Richard Baim bridge, M ic he lle Coe, Lissa Gibbs, Mark J. Huism an, Gary 0. Larson, Cara Mertes,


Design Director: Daniel C hristm asls ta r tr e e @ x s ite .n e t ]

A dvertising Director: Laura D. Davis (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 22 5; ld is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o r g ]

A d vertis ing Rep: Scott C astle (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 233;

ls c o tt@ a iv f .o r g ]

A rticles from T h e In d e p e n d e n t are archived o n lin e at lww w .elibrary.com )

•

N a tion al D istrib u tio n : Total C irculation (M an ha tta n) (2 0 1 ) 3 4 2 -6 3 3 4 ;



POSTMASTER O nd address changes to:

The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., 6 fl., NY, NY 10013.

The In d ep en d en t F ilm & Video M on th ly ''SSN 0731-5198) is published month

ly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student;

$100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and

video. Library and school subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact AIVF, 304 Hudson S t, 6 f l , NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax.- (212) 463-8519; independent@ aivf.org; www.aivf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing

offices.

Publication of The Independent is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Publication of any advertisement in The Independent

does not constitute an endorsement AIVF/FTVF are not responsible for any claims

made in an ad.

Letters to The Indep endent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's

previous appearance in The Independent. The Indep endent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index.

© Foundation lor Independent Video and F ilm Inc. 1999

AIVF/FTVF staff: Elizabeth Peters, executive director- Michelle Coe, program i information services director; LaTrice Dixon, membership/advocacy associate; Eugene

Hernandez, webmaster; Jodi Magee, development consultant; Jessica Perez, administrative director; Marya Wethers, membership assistant

AIVF/FTVF legal counsel: Robert I. Freedman, Esq, Leavy, Rosensweig & Hyman

AIVF/FTVF Board of Directors: Loni Ding (co-president), Lee Lew-Lee, Graham Leggat Ruby Lemer*, Peter Lewnes, Richard Linklater, Cynthia Lopez*, Diane Markrow (sec

retary), Jim McKay, Robb Moss (chair), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus*, Valerie Soe, Barton Weiss (co-president).’ FIVF Board of Directors only

CONTENTS

May 1999

VOLUME 22, NUMBER 4 www.aivf.org

c r i25 High Definition, Low Profile: PBS Enters the Digital AgeIn November, some 40 public TV stations quietly began digital broadcasting. Here’s an overview of HDTV, SDTV, enhanced TV, datacasting, and other elements that figure in the digital future of PBb. by G a r y O . L a r s o n28 Over There! WDR in Germany and French Public TVIn the U.S., commercial television had a two-decade headstart on public TV. In Europe, conversely, the private channels are the newcomers. Has this made a difference in how public stations have responded to increasing commercial competition.7 Two industry observers take a look overseas. by C l a u s M u e l l e r & B e t h a n y H a y e32 PBS Potluck: A Sampling of Acquisition SeriesWhile most filmmakers are familiar with PBS’s documentary series PO. V, there are a number of other independent acquisition series on public television, as this selection demonstrates. by S c o t t C a s t l e

2 8

THE I N D E P E N D E N T May 1999






http://www.aivf.org

http://www.aivf.org

32

Upfront7 NewsA conversation with NEA chair William Ivey after a year on the job. by M a x A l v a r e z11 ProfilesLaurel Ladevich, Stevan M. Smith, Loretta Toddby I s a b e l S a d u r n i , A n d y S p l e t z e r &C a r a M e r t e s

14

6 Fest Circuit

60

FAQ & Info38 Distributor FAQThough unknown to many documentary makers, Films for the Humanities and Sciences is nonetheless North America’s largest supplier of videos and CD-ROMs to schools, colleges, and libraries.by L i s s a G i b b s

38

40 Funder FAQBringing independently produced programs to public television since 1991, ITVS looks toward the future. by M i c h e l l e C o e44 Festivals 48 Notices 52 Classifieds

40

@ A IV F58 Events60 In & Out of Production61 Salons

Coven Cyoercolumnist Robert X. Cringley hosts PBS’s guide to the digital future of television, Digital TV: A Cringley Crash Course, produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting and rebroadcast on May 26. See Gary 0. Larson's feature story "High Definition, Low Profile" for what else PBS has in store. Photo courtesy PBS

May 1999 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

J U N E 1 9 9 9 A P u b lic a t io n o f T h e F o u n d o tio n fo r In d e p e n d e n t V id e o o n d F ilm w w w .o iv fo r g


JWomen and WarVietnam & W W II R evisited

* DVD & the Future of Distribution

Seventh Art Releasing

Native Film 2000

Aussie AboriginalsFrom Borbara Sonneborn's Regret to Inform (inset)

$5.25 us

http://www.oivforg

the Independent F i l m & video monthly

•


Editor in Chief: Patricia Thomsonle d ito r @ a iv f.o r g )

M anaging Editor: Paul Powerl in d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f.o r g )

Listings Editor. Scott Castlelfe s t iv a ls @ a iv f.o r g l

Interns. G esha-M arie Bryant, Lisa Vasta

C ontribu ting Editors: Richard Baim bridge, M ichelle Coe, Lissa Gibbs, Mark J. H uism an, Gary 0. Larson, Cara Mertes, Barbara

Bliss Osborn, Rob Rownd, Robert L. Seigel, Esq

Design Director.- Daniel C hristm asls ta r tr e e @ x s ite .n e tl

A dvertising Director: Laura D. Davis (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 22 5; ld is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o r g l

A rticles from T h e I n d e p e n d e n t are archived o n lin e at l ww w.elibrary.com l

•

N ational D istrib utio n. Total C irculation (M an h a tta n ) (2 0 1 ) 3 4 2 -6 3 3 4 ;

Ingram Periodicals (80 0) 6 2 7 -6 2 4 7



The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., 6 f t , NY, NY 10013.

The In d ep en d en t F ilm & Video M onth ly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film

(FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film . Subscription to the magazine ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student $100/yr nonprofit organization, $150/yr business/ind ustry) is included in annual

membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library and school subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact AIVF 304 Hudson S t, 6

f t , NY, NY 10013. (212) 807-1400; fa x (212) 463-8519, [email protected]; www.aivf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.

Publication of The Indep endent is made possible in part with public funds from the

New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad.

Letters to The Indep endent should be addressed to the editor. Letters will be edited for length. All contents are copynght of the Foundation for Independent* Video and Film,

Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent The Indep endent is indexed in the Alternative

Press Index.


AIVF/FIVF staff. Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Michelle Coe, program & information services director; LaTrice Dixon, membership/advocacy associate; Eugene Hernandez, webmaster; Jessica Perez, administrative director; Suzy Salamy, informa

tion sendees assistant

AIVF/FIVF legal counsel: Robert I. Freedman. E sq , heavy, Rosensweig & Hyman

AIVF/FIVF Board of Oirectors: Loni Oing (co-president), Lee Lew-Lee, Graham Leggat, Ruby Lerner*, Peter Lewnes Richard Linklater, Cynthia Lopez*. Diane Markrow (cochair), Jim McKay (vice-president & secretary), Robb Moss (co-chair), Elizabeth

Peters (ex officio), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus*, Valerie Soe, Barton Weiss (co-president). * FIVF Board of Oirectors only.

CONTENTS

June 1999ME 22, NUMBER 5

22

Features22 War StoriesWhat’s the likelihood of getting an anti-war film funded in the current climate? The makers of Regret to Inform and Rabbit in the Moon debate these and related questions in a lively roundtable discussion about their war-related documentaries.

by Patricia T homson

28 Return of the NativePundits predicted that Smoke Signals’ $7-million box office draw would open doors for Native American feature directors. Has this proven true, or were they blowing smoke? Also, a report from the country’s oldest Native American film festival.

by Beth Pinsker & Deborah Dennison

32 Aussie AboriginalsIndigenous work from Down Under is highlighted at the Margaret Mead Film & Video Festival.


28 32






http://www.aivf.org

1 0

C I T Y

PLay MovieProduction Credits

Scene AccessPhoto GalleyFilmmakers

Upfront6 NewsKorean indies unite; the Latino Independent Media ProducersConference; Rafic “Rafik” Azzouny: 1942-1999.by D e i r d r e B o y l e , E l i z a b e t h P e t e r s , Pa u l Po w e r10 TechnologyDVD and the future of exhibition; DEN offers TV-style pilots; Next Wave Films and Open City Productions launch digital divisions.by R y a n D e u s s i n g , C h a d C a m p b e l l ,G e s h a - M a r i e B r y a n t16 Festival CircuitThe fine arts thrive at the Montreal International Festival of Films on Art; South by Southwest’s discussion on all things filmic and financial; Conduit.3 got game.by N a d i n e C o v e r t , E l i z a b e t h P e t e r s , K im K r i z a n

Departments20 BooksChick Flicks: Theories and Memories o f the Feminist Film Movement

by B. Ruby Rich, and Movie Marketing: Opening the Picture and Giving it

Legs, by Tiiu Lukk

REVIEWED BY PAT A u FDERHEIDE &. REID ROSEFELT

21 On ViewIndependents opening at a theater or on national television this month.

by P a u l P o w e r

FAQ & Info34 Distributor FAQDocumentaries have a home at Seventh Art Releasing. by L i s s a G ibbs36 Funder FAQHelping fill in the regional funding gap left by the NEA is the Texas Filmmakers’ Production Fund, brainchild of director Rick Linklater. by M i c h e l l e C oe38 Festivals 42 Notices 48 Classifieds

34

21

@AIVF54 Events56 In & Out of Production 58 Salon SpotlightWhat’s up in Charleston, San Diego &. Houston.by P e t e r W e n t w o r t h ,Pa u l E s p i n o s a &. D a v i d M e n d e lCOVER: Vietnam revisited: A woman runs from a bomb fire in Regret to Inform, Barbara Sonneborn’s personal documentary on Vietnam war widows, (inset) Photo courtesy ETV, background photo courtesy Daniel Christmas.

55

K l i e r s illifliice

58

June 1999 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

JULY 1999 A P ublicotion of The Foun dotion fo r In d e p e n d e n t V id eo and F ilm w w w .a iv f.o rg

Special Fo

cus

onEx

pe

rime

nta

l Media

the Independent FILM &VIDEO MONTHLY

Behind-the Scare Tactics o fThe Blair Witch Project

Leighton Pierce Hits His Stride

Jesse Ventura’s Choke Hold on Public TV

Foolproof Filing of Film Trims

$3.95 us $5.25 cun

http://www.aivf.org

the independent F ilm & V ID E O MONTHLY


Editor in Chief: Patricia Thomson le d ito r @ a iv f.o r g l

M anaging Editor: Paul Power Iin d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f.o r g l

Listings Editor: Scott Castle lfe s t iv a ls @ a iv f.o r g l

Intern: Lisa Vasta

C ontribu ting Editors: Richard Baim bridge, Lissa Gibbs,Mark J. Huism an, Gary 0. Larson, Barbara B liss Osborn,

Rob Rownd, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.

Design Director: Daniel Christm as [s ta rtre e @ x s ite .H e tl

A dvertising Director: Laura D. Davis (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 225; ld is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o r g l

•

N ational Distribution.- Ingram P eriodicals (8 0 0 ) 6 2 7 -6 2 4 7




The Ind ep en d en t F ilm & Video M onth ly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of

video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student; $150/yr business/industr;, $100/yr nonprofit organization) is included in annual

membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library and school subscnptions are $75/yr. Contact AIVF 304 Hudson St., 6

fl„ NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax. (212) 463-8519; independent@ aivf.org; www.aivf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.

Publication of The Indep endent is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the

Arts, a federal agency. Publication of any advertisement in The Indep endent does not constitute an endorsement AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad.

Letters to The Ind ep en d en t should be addressed to the editor. Letters will be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article’s previous appearance in The Independent. The Indep endent is indexed in the Alternative

Press Index.


AIVF/FIVF staff. Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Michelle Coe, program & infor

mation services director; LaTrice Dixon, membership/advocacy associate; Eugene Hernandez, webmaster; Jessica Perez, administrative director; Suzy Salamy, information services assistant.

AIVF/FIVF legal counsel. Robert I. Freedman, Esq., Leavy, Rosensweig & Hyman

AIVF/FIVF Board of Oirectors: Loni Oing (co-president), Lee Lew-Lee, Graham Leggat, Ruby Lemer*, Peter Lewnes, Richard Linklater, Cynthia Lopez*, Diane Markrow (co

chair), Jim McKay (secretary, vice president), Robb Moss (co-chair), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus*. Valerie Soe, Barton Weiss (co-president).* FIVF Board of Directors only

CONTENTS

July 1999VOLUME 22, NUMBER b i i y & J

22

Special Issue: Experimental MediaThroughout this issue— The Independent's fourth annual spotlight on experimental work— we profile an array of media innovators and the distributors, funders, and exhibitors who support them.

22 Off the Beaten Track: The B lair Witch P ro jectThink of your worst camping nightmares, add some improv, some Bigfoot, a Global Positioning System, stir it together, and you’ve got a great case for “Method Filmmaking” and The Blair Witch Project, the scariest movie and most original indie feature of the year. by A d a m P i n c u s28 But will it play in Peoria?Curators John Columbus of Black Maria and Rajendra Roy of the MIX festival discuss the current state of exhibition opportunities— and audiences— for experimental media.by J e r e my L e h re r32 Transcendental Domesticity: Leighton PierceAs chronicler of the everyday shapes, sounds, and events in his domestic environment, Leighton Pierce has amassed a gently persuasive body of film and video work. by S c o t t M a c D o n a l d

28 32

THE I N D E P E N D E N T July 1999


http://www.aivf.org

8

Upfront5 NewsMinnesota Governor Jesse Ventura tries to armlock state public TV and radio funding; the Estate Project launches its independent film preservation initiative with the films of Warren Sonhert.by N a d i n e E k r e k , L a w r e n c e F erber8 ProfilesKarl Nussbaum, James Benning, Igor Vamos, Peter Calvin.by J erry W h i t e , A n t h o n y Ka u f m a n , R i c h a r d B a i m b r i d g e , A a r o n K r a c h18 Festival CircuitThe Ann Arbor Film Festival, U.S. Super 8 Film Festival, Los Angeles Independent Film Festival, Thessaloniki Documentary Festival. by E l i z a b e t h H e n r y , Pa u l Po w e r , R o b R o w n d

21

Th e Lo ve M ach in e■ i

a study of sexual fantasy on the Internet

Departments14 Wired Blue YonderWill Avid ditch the Mac platform?; a look at Hi-Def editing. by B en L o n g ,R y a n D e u s s i n g25 TechnologyIf you’ve ever spent longer than 20 seconds looking for a film trim, this article will save you hours of fruitless hunting in the cutting room.by Su F r i e d r i c hFAQ & Info39 Distributor FAQSince its days as a collective, Toronto’s V tape has been home to the work of experimental film- and videomakers.by L i s s a G ibbs42 Funder FAQThe Experimental Television Center celebrates 28 years of funding and supporting experimental media artists. by M i c h e l l e C o e44 Festivals 49 Notices 54 Classifieds

39

42j

@ A I V F58 Events 60 Salons 62 Member Benefits

COVER: Boo! The creepy iconography of The Blair Witch Project. Photo: Patricia Thomsor

July 1999 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

A U G U ST/SE PTE M B E R 1 9 9 9 A P ublication of The Foun dation fo r In d e p e n d e n t V id eo and F ilm w w w .o iv f.o rg

the independent

WHY SHOOT DIGITAL DV EDIT SOFTWARE PRODUCER' s IFFM PREP KIT CINEMA GUILD WHAT DO

ERROL MORRIS JOHN SAYLE1,

CHRISTINE VACHON & GILL HOLLAN

HAVE IN COMMON?3.95us 55.2 'can

http://www.oivf.org

aehdepemknl F ilm & V ID E O M O N TH LY



M anaging Editor: Paul Power lin d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f.o r g l

Listings E d ito r Scott Castle lfe s t iv a ls @ a iv f.o r g l

Intern: Lisa Vasta

C ontrib u ting Editors: Richard Baim bridge, Lissa Gibbs,Mark J. Huism an, Gary 0. Larson, Cara Mertes,


Design Director: Daniel C hristm as ls ta r tr e e @ x s ite .n e t l

Advertising Director: Laura D. Davis (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 22 5; ld is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o r g ]

•

N ational D istrib u tio n : Ingram P eriodicals (8 0 0 ) 6 2 7 -6 2 4 7



The Independent Rim & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson S t, 6 f t , NY, NY 10013.

The In d ep en d en t F ilm & Video M on th ly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video andF ilm

(FIVF), a nonprofit tax-exempt educational foundation ded.cated to the promoton of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student- $150/yr business/industry; $100/yr nonprofit organization) is included in annual

membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library and school subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact AIVF, 304 Hudson S t, 6 f t , NY. NY 10013. (212) 807-1400; fax. (212) 463-8519; independent@ aivf.org;

www.arvf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York. NY, and at additional mailing offices.

Publication of The indep endent is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Publication of any advertisement in The Indep endent does not constitute an endorsement AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad.

Letters to The Indep endent should be addressed to the editor. Letters will be edited

for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent. The Indep endent is indexed in the Alternative

Press Index.


AIVF/FIVF staff: Elizabeth Peters, executive director Michelle Coe, program & information services director; LaTrice Dixon, membership/advocacy director; Eugene

Hernandez, webmaster; Jessica Perez, administrative director; Suzy Salamy, information services associate-, Liza Oonatelli, Self-D istribution Toolkit coordinator; Ebony Washington, membership intern; Joseph Kim, programming intern; Christopher Riecken, programming intern; Jennifer Cieri, programming intern.

AIVF/FIVF legal counsel. Robert I. Freedman, Esq., Leavy, Rosensweig & Hyman

AIVF/FIVF Board of Oirectors: Loni Ding (co-president), Lee Lew-Lee, Graham Leggat

Ruby Lemer*, Peter Lewnes, Richard Linklater, Cynthia Lopez', Oiane Markrow (cochair), Jim McKay (secretary, vice president), Robb Moss (co-chair), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus", Valene Soe, Barton Weiss (co-president).* flVF Board of Oirectors only

C O N T E N T SAugust/September 1999 VOLUME 22 NUMBER 7 www.aivf.org

33

F eat ures

33 How Low Can You Go?How does one go about making a truly micro-budget film? The Independent talked with four directors to get the low down.

b y M a r k J. H u i s m a n

36 Heaven Sent:IFC Productions

IFC Productions was formed two years ago; now the fruits of their labors are coming to a theater near you. The Independent talks with IFC’s Jonathan Sehring and Caroline Kaplan to discuss their goals, past and present.

b y P a t r i c i a T h o m s o n

36

41

41 Viva la Revolucion DV!A DV producer’s answer to the ubiquitous question, “Should I shoot in DV?” Complete with technical breakdowns of films that are leading the DV parade.

b y E s t h e r R o b i n s o n a n d

F a n c e W e i l e r

THE I N D E P E N D E N T August'September 1999



http://www.arvf.org

http://www.aivf.org

Upfront7 NewsMayor Giuliani’s clean-up of Times Square hears unexpected fruit.

b y L y n n L o v e

11 Wired Blue Yonder® ™ ark’s subversions; Home Page tries e-commerce; Boston’s first

Cyberarts Festival; the Canadian Film Centre’s new h(u bitat.

b y R i c h a r d B a i m b r i d g e ; M a r k L o n d o n W i l l i a m s ;

S t e p h e n B r o p h y ; J e r r y W h i t e

19 Festival CircuitGetting ready for the Independent Feature Film Market; getting over Cannes.

b y P a u l P o w e r ; B a r b a r a S c h a r r e s

14

Departments26 TechnologyA look at DV editing solutions EditDV and MotoDV Studio.

b y R o b e r t G o o d m a n

30 LegalJust what is a producer’s rep?

b y R o b e r t L .

S E I G E L

32 On Viewb y P a u l P o w e r

2 6

FAQ & Info46 Distributor FAQVeteran distributor Cinema Guild re-enters the theatrical fray.


48 Funder FAQThe Aperture Film Grant offer big funds for short films.

b y M i c h e l l e C o e

46


@AIVF68 Events 70 Salons

OCTOBER 1999 A P ublication of The F oun dation fo r In d e p e n d e n t V id eo and Film w w w .a iv f.o rg

SPOTLIGHTON DOCUMENTARYthe independent

FILM&VIDEO MONTHLY

“AMERICAN MOVIE”MADE IN MILWAUKEEWOOD

ARCHIVES ON-LINE • SOROS’ SUMS BLOCKBUSTER IN COURT • A&E DIGS DOCS

S3.95 us S5.25 tan

http://www.aivf.org

the independent F ilm & v id e o MONTHLY



Managing Editor: Paul Power iin d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f.o rg l

Listings Editor: Scott Castle Ife s t iv a ls @ a iv f.o r g l

Intern: Lisa Vasta

C ontributing Editors: Richard Baim bridge, Lissa Gibbs,Mark J. Huism an, Gary 0. Larson, Cara Mertes,


Design Director; Daniel Christm as [email protected]

Advertising Director: Laura D. Davis (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x. 22 5; ld is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o r g l

Ad Rep: Stephan Kessler (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x. 23 0;

Ia d s @ a iv f.o r g l

•

N ational D is trib u tio n : Ingram Periodicals (8 0 0 ) 6 2 7 -6 2 4 7


POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:The In d ep en d en t F ilm & Video M onthly, 304 Hudson St., 6 fl., NY NY 10013.

The In d ep en d en t F ilm & Video M onth ly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published month

ly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student;

$150/yr business/industry: $ 100/yr nonprofit organization) is included in annual membership dues paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and

video. Library and school subscriptions are $75/yr Contact AIVF, 304 Hudson St., 6 fl., NY, NY 10013. (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 463-8519; [email protected]; www.aivf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York. NY, and at additional

mailing offices.

Publication of The Indep endent is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and the a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Publication of any advertisement in The Indep endent does not constitute an endorsement AIVF/FTVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad.

Letters to The Indep endent should be addressed to the editor. Letters will be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Rim, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent. The Indep endent is indexed in the Alternative

Press Index.

© Foundation for Independent Video & F ilm Inc. 1999

AIVF/FTVF staff: Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Michelle Coe. program & infor

mation services director; LaTrice Dixon, membership/advocacy director; Eugene Hernandez, web consultant; Joshua Sanchez, webmaster; Jessica Perez, administrative director; Suzy Salamy, information services associate; Liza Donatelli, Toolkit

coordinator, Maxim Almenas, Bernard Cistrunk & Corey McDonald, interns.

A1VF/FIVF legal counsel. Robert I. Freedman, Esq., Leavy, Rosensweig & Hyman

A1VF/FIVF Board of Directors: Loni Ding (co-president), Lee Lew-Lee, Graham Leggat, Ruby Lemer*, Peter Lewnes. Richard Linklater, Cynthia Lopez*, Diane Markrow (cochair), Jim McKay (secretary, vice president), Robb Moss (co-chair), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), Robert Richter (treasurer). James Schamus*. Valerie Soe, Barton Weiss (co-president).* FIVF Board of Directors only.

CONTENTSOctober 1999 VOLUME 22, NUMBER 8 www.aivf.org

24Issue Spotlight: Documentary TodayAs some things change (the flood of on-line resources), others remain the same— like the old-fashioned blood, sweat, and tears it still takes to produce a documentary. It’s all reflected in this issue.

24 Made in MilwaukeewoodChris Smith’s American Movie is the story of one driven Midwestern indie filmmaker as told by another. Plus, a profile of Coven director and American Movie subject Mark Borchardt.

b y R o b N e l s o n

28 Beyond Biography: A&E and IndependentsWith its 30 hours of documentary specials each year, the Arts & Entertainment Network has become a partner to a growing number of independent documentarians— particularly those with a nose for news.

b y B e t h P i n s k e r

32 Archival Research Goes Hi TechSearching for archival footage used to be a long, arduous, and expensive process. Now, with archives’ searchable databases and on-line clips, you might find that footage without ever taking off your bedroom slippers.

b y A n d r e a M e y e r

THE I N D E P E N D E N T October 1999


http://www.aivf.org

http://www.aivf.org

5

Upfront5 NewsBlockbuster faces two lawsuits over strong-arm business tactics that cripple independent

videostore owners.

by T i a L e s s i n & S a n d y C i o f f i

8 OpinionA new vocabulary needed for nonfiction film; documentary

distribution in the digital era.

- b y P a u l D e v l i n ; D o u g B l o c k

11 Wired Blue YonderSite seeing: Noteworthy resources on the web.

b y L i s a V a s t a

12 ProfilesLiz Mermin & Jenny Raskin; Mary Katzke; Termite TV

b y L y n n M . E r m a n n ;

C a r o l M i l a n o ; J e r e m y L e h r e r

16TERMITE TV

18 Festival CircuitKeeping it reel at Nyon’s Visions du Reel; an apple tor Content 99; the Provincetown Film Festival makes its debut.

b y B e a t r i j s v a n A g t ; B r e n d a n P e t e r s o n ;

S t e p h e n B r o p h y

COVER: Chris Smith and Sarah Price, the dynamic duo behind American Movie. Photo: Mark Horton, courtesy Sony Pictures Classics

* F L A S H SONY PICTURES CLASSICS & AIVFPRESENT

A BENEFIT PREMIERE OF AMERICAN MOVIESEE PAGE 60 FOR DETAILS!

35

39

FAQ & Info35 Distributor FAQIn the distribution business since 1916, the University of California Extension Center shows that an old dog can learn new tricks.


39 Funder FAQDaring to go where few others tread, the Soros Documentary Fund actively supports films on such contemporary (and thorny) social issues as human rights, freedom of expression, and civil liberties.



@AIVF60 Events & AIVF Minutes62 In & Out of Productionb y L i s a V a s t a

63 Salons

62

October 1999 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

NOVEMBER 1999 A Publication o f The Foundation fo r Independent Video and Film www.aiyf.org

SPECIAL

DIG

ITAL ISSU

E t h e I n d e p e n d e n t

FILM A VIDEO MONTHLY

IS AMAZON’S ADVANTAGE PUN WORTH IT?CPBs DIGITAL BLUEPRINT

ACCESSORIZE YOUR CANON XL-1

CINEMATOGRAPHERSDiscuss the Art & Craft of Shooting DV

S3 95 us $5.25 con

http://www.aiyf.org

the lndependent9

P ub lisher: Elizabeth Peters

Editor in C hief: Patricia Thomsonle d ito r @ a iv f.o r g l

M anaging Editor: Paul Powerlin d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f.o r g l

Listings Editor: Scott CastleI fe s t iv a ls @ a iv f.o r g )

Intern.- Lisa Vasta

C ontributing Editors: Richard Baim bridge, Lissa Gibbs,M ark J. Huism an, Gary 0. Larson, Cara Mertes,


Design D irector: Daniel C hristm as(s ta r tr e e @ x s ite .n e tl

Advertising Director: Laura D. Davis (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x. 22 5; ld is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o r g l

Ad Rep: Stephan Kessler (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x. 2 3 0 ;

la d s @ a iv f .o r g l

•

N ational D is trib u tio n : Ingram P e riodicals (8 0 0 ) 6 2 7 -6 2 4 7


POSTMASTER: Send address changes to.-The In d ep en d en t F ilm & Video M onthly, 304 Hudson St., 6 f t , NY, NY 10013.

The In d ep en d en t F ilm & Video M on th ly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film

(FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film . Subscription to the magazine is included in annual membership dues ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student, $150/yr business/industry, $100/y r nonprofit

organization) paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library and school subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact: AIVF, 304 Hudson S t. 6 f t , NY, NY 10013, (212) 80 7-1400; fax: (212) 463-8519; independent@ aivf.org;

www.aivf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.

Publication of The Indep endent is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and the a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency Publication of any advertisement in The Indep endent does not constitute an endorsement AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad.

Letters to The Ind ep en d en t should be addressed to the editor. Letters will be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous

appearance in The Independent. The Indep endent is indexed in the Alternative

Press Index.

© Foundation for Independent Video & Dim, Inc. 1999

AIVF/DVF staff: Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Michelle Coe, program & infor

mation services director; LaTrice Oixon, membership/advocacy director; Eugene Hernandez, web consultant; Joshua Sanchez, webmaster; Jessica Perez, administrative director; Liza Donatelli, Toolkit coordinator; Bernard Cistrunk, intern.

AIVF/DVF legal counsel: Robert I. Freedman, Esq., Leavy, Rosensweig & Hyman

AIVF/DVF Board of Directors: Loni Oing (co-president), Lee Lew-Lee, Graham Leggat, Ruby Lemer*, Peter Lewnes, Richard Linklater, Cynthia Lopez*, Oiane Markrow (cochair), Jim McKay (secretary, vice president), Robb Moss 'co-chair), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus*. Valerie Soe, Barton Weiss (co-president). * FIVF Board of Directors only

C O N T E N T S

November 1 9 9 9VOLUME 22, NUMBER 9 www.aivf.org

26

Special Issue: Digital FilmmakingWho isn’t planning to shoot digitally nowadays? Or thinking about marketing their film via the web? This issue reflects the seismic changes that are underway in the industry, from fundraising to production to distribution.

Fe a tu re s

38 The Art & Craft of Shooting DV: A Cinematographer’s PerspectiveSwitching from film to digital video is a little more complicated than one might think. As this group of cinematographers makes clear, it not only involves adjusting to different cameras, but also to different aesthetics and a whole new bag of technical tricks.

b y H o l l y W i l l i s

42 Amazon.com Comes CourtingWith its new Advantage program, Amazon.com sets its sights on independent mediamakers. The question is, what is the advantage to signing on with the bookselling behemoth?by A d a m P i n c u s

T H E I N D E P E N D E N T November 1999



http://www.aivf.org

38

Upfront5 NewsSenator Bono’s copyright windfall; Dogma in the den of Lions Gate; Short Ends.

b y R o b e r t L . S e i g e l , R i c h a r d

B a IMBRIDGE; PAUL POWER

8 OpinionCaveat emptor: There’s a downside to the digital onslaught.

b y S.D . K a t z

10 Wired Blue YonderCPB counts down to 2K3; on-line screenwriting workshops; projections on the future of digital projection; more web siteseeing.

b y G a r y O . L a r s o n -, R i c h a r d B a i m b r i d g e ;

M a r k L o n d o n W i l l i a m s ; L i s a V a s t a

.6

46

20 ProfilesSteve Lawrence; Marc Weiss; Jeff Meyers & Jeff Jones; Caspar Stracke

b y A a r o n K r a c h ; L a r r y

L o e w i n g e r ; T h o m a s W h i t e ,

I l a n a G o l d b e r g

26 Festival CircuitA sampler of on-line film fests; the New York Video Festival embraces the medium; Siggraph’s futurama; kicking it up at the Banff Television festival.

b y E u g e n e H e r n a n d e z ;

S t e v e E r i c k s o n ; K a r e n

Vo ss ; T r i s h D o l m a n

10

Departments34 TechnologyNew accessories for your Canon XL-1.

b y R o b e r t G o o d m a n

34

FAQ & Info46 Distributor FAQNot just a web site, AtomFilms.com is selling shorts and animation to additional markets, and in the process creating a new distribution template.


49 Funder FAQGetting help with fundraising on-line through www.founda- tioncenter.org


38


@ A IV F62 Events 64 Salons

Cover: From Dempsey Rice's DV documentary, Daughter of Suicide. See feature article “The Art and Craft of Shooting DV"

November 1999 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

http://www.founda-tioncenter.org

http://www.founda-tioncenter.org

D E C E M B E R 1 9 9 9 A P u b lic a t io n o f T h e F o u n d a tio n fo r In d e p e n d e n t V id e o a n d F i lm w w w .a iv f .o rg

the lndependentFILM & VIDEO MONTHLY

S P O T L I G H T ON

NEW MEXICO

Also:

Sizing Up Final Cut ProThe 10 Commandments

of ProductionNavigating NYSCA

Lisanne Skyler gets to know

Joyce Carol Oates

$3.95 us $5.25 can

http://www.aivf.org

the IndependentFILM & VIDEO


Editor in Chief: Patric ia Thomson le d ito r @ a iv f.o r g ]

M anaging Editor: Paul Power l io d e p e o d e iit@ a iv f.o r g ]

Listings Editor: Scott Castle lfe s tiv a ls @ a iv f.o r g l

Interns-. Lisa Vasta, Em ily Bobrow

C ontribu ting Editors: Richard Baim bridge, Lissa Gibbs, M ark J. Huism an, Gary 0. Larson, Cara M ertes, Barbara B liss Osborn,


Design Director: Daniel C hristm as ls ta r tr e e @ x s ite .o e t]

Advertising Director: Laura D. Davis (2 1 2 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 225;[d is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o r g l

•

N a tion al D istrib utio n:Ingram P eriodicals (8 0 0 ) 6 2 7 -6 2 4 7




The In d ep en d en t F ilm & Video M onth ly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published month

ly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (F1VF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine is included in annual membership dues ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/yr busi-

ness/industry) paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library and school subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact: AIVF, 304 Hudson S t, 6 f t , NY,

NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 463-8519; in d ep en d e n t© aivf.org; www.aivf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.

Publication of The Independent is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Publication of any

advertisement in The Indep endent does not constitute an endorsement AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad. The Indep endent is a member of the Independent Press Association.

Letters to The Indep en d en t should be addressed to the editor. Letters be edited for

length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent. The Indep endent is indexed in the Alternative

Press Index and is a member of the Independent Press Association.


AIVF/FIVF staff: Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Michelle Coe, program & information services director; LaTrice Dixon, membership & advocacy director; Jessica

Perez, administrative director; Oonna Joyce, information services assistant; Josh Sanchez, webmaster; Liza Oonatelli, Toolkit coordinator; Eugene Hernandez, web consultant Bernard Cistrunk & Jessica Laudicina, interns.


AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Loni Oing (co-president), Lee Lew-Lee, Graham Leggat, Ruby Lemer*, Peter Lewnes, Richard Linklater, Cynthia Lopez*, Oiane Markrow (cochair), Jim McKay (secretary, vice president), Robb Moss (co-chair), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus*, Valerie Soe, Barton Weiss

(co-president).* F1VF Board of directors only

CONTENTSDecember 1999VOLUME 22, NUMBER 10 www.aivf.org

Regional Spotlight: New MexicoTake a closer look at northern New Mexico and you’ll see it’s been a fertile breeding ground for all kinds of artists. Ever since Edison first gazed through a lens here in 1898, a wide range of independent mediamakers have been among the pack. This section focuses on what’s happening in the areas of Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos.

20 Land of EnchantmentAn overview of New Mexico’s film & video scene.

by Devin D. O’Leary

20 Feature Film TimelineA chronology of major features shot in the state.

by S cott Castle

23 New Mexico Production SamplerWhat’s in production in northern NM.

by Devin D. O’Leary

25 All Things Great and SmallProfile of Albuquerque producer Alton Walpole.

by Jon Bowman

27 Animal CrackerSusie Whelply, animal wrangler.

by Rick Romancito

28 Brightly LitMedia literacy is flourishing throughout the state.

BY Debra Denker

29 Bridging Ancient & Modern artist Nora Naranjo-Morse.

30 Regional Resourcesby Pall Power

F eatures

32 Getting to Know Lisanne SkylerWith her new feature Getting to Know. You, dir t 1 b \ H o e Sklyer makes a fluid tradition from documentary t6 fiction filmmaking and e m* tw o others in her cap: making a cohesive screenplay,.adaptation of several ioyee Carol Oates stories and working closely and well with a sibling, her sister and co-screenwriter Tristine Skyler

BY L llSA G ibbs

35 The Top Ten Commandments of Independent Film ProductionIf there’s 10 good rules to live by, try these.

by Steven C. Beer, Esq. & Jesse RosenblattT H E I N D E P E N D E N T December 1999




http://www.aivf.org

http://www.aivf.org

U p f ront 7 NewsNew cameras from Aaton and Sony add fuel to the film vs. video fire.

b y S c o t t C a s t l e

10 Festival CircuitGetting high at Telluride; getting down and dirty in Toronto.

b y I s a b e l S a d u r n i ; P a t r i c i a T h o m s o n

D e p a r t m e n t s

16 New TechFinal Cut Pro: revolutionizing the world of desktop editing.

b y R o b e r t M . G o o d m a n

38

F AQ & I nfo

38 Distributor F.A.Q.Shadow Distribution: What’s up Down East


41 Funder F.A.Q.New York State Council on the Arts: An inestimable force in the media arts world.



@ A I V F62 Events63 Salons

COVER PHOTO: Tom LeGoff

Decem ber 1999 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2000 A Publication of The Foundation tor Independent Video and Film www.aivf.org

the Independent FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY

AIVFTurns

25

M IL L E N N IA LTIME CAPSULE

A MESSAGE TO THE FUTUREfrom Jambs Schamus • Todd McCarthy

Ellen S c h n e i d e r Rick Prelinger • Chris Eyre Ruby Lerner • Alan Berliner Su Friedrich

M ark Crispin M ille r • Cathleen O'Connell Elizabeth Peters • Stacey Spikes

AISO:THE ART OF SUBTITLING

Financing through IFFCON FILM LOGIC Tested

S3.95 us S5.25 ton

http://www.aivf.org

the Independenta m m M im eo monthly


Editor in Chief: Patricia Thomson[e d ito r@ a iv f.o rg ]


Listings Editor: Scott Castlelfe s tiv a ls @ a iv f.o r g l

Interns: Lisa Vasta, Emily Bobrow

C ontributing Editors: Richard Baimbridge, Lissa Gibbs, Mark J. Huisman, Gary 0. Larson, Cara Mertes, Barbara Bliss Osborn,


Design Director: Daniel Christmasls ta r tre e @ s p e e d site .c o m ]

Advertising Director.- Laura D. Davis (212 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 225; ld is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o rg ]

•

National D istribution:Ingram Periodicals (80 0) 62 7 -6 2 4 7



The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., 6 ft , NY, NY 10013.

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine is included in annual membership dues ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student; $100/yr nonprofit organization,- $150/yr business/industry) paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library and school subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact-. AIVF, 304 Hudson St., 6-fl., NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax.- (212) 463-8519; independent@ aivf.org; www.aivf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.

Publication of The Independent is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement.AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad.Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent. The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index and is a member of the Independent Press Association.


AIVF/FIVF staff.- Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Michelle Coe, program & information services director; LaTrice Dixon, membership & advocacy director; Oonna Joyce, information services assistant; Jessica Perez, administrative director; Josh Sanchez, webmaster; Katie Cokinos, MAESTRO coordinator,- Liza Donatelli, Toolkit coordinator; Eugene Hernandez, web consultant.


AIVF/FIVF Board of Oirectors: Loni Oing (co-president), Lee Lew-Lee, Graham Leggat, Ruby Lerner*, Peter Lewnes, Richard Linklater, Cynthia Lopez*, Oiane Markrow (cochair), Jim McKay (secretary, vice president), Robb Moss (co-chair), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus*, Valerie Soe, Barton Weiss (co-president).* FIVF Board of Directors only.

CONTENTS

January/Febrary 200VOLUME 23NUMBER 1www.avif.org

36

Features32 The Art of SubtitlingAccepted to a foreign festival? Congrats! But now you face the task of subtitling your film.Here’s a look at who pays, where to get it done, and whether to trust your translator.

by A n d r e a M ey er

36 A Y2K Time CapsuleTo celebrate the turn of the millennium, The Independent asked 12 industry professionals to prepare a Y2K time capsule that represents film and video at this particular point in time.

by A lan B e r l i n e r ; S u F r i e d r i c h ; C a t h l e e n O ’ C o n n e l l ; C hri s E y r e ; R uby L e r n e r ; E l i z a b e t h P e t e r s ; M a r k C r is p i n M i l l e r ; S t a c e y S p i k e s ; R ick P r e l i n g e r ; J a me s S c h a m u s ; E llen S c h n e i d e r ; T odd M c C a r t h y

41 Inside the Cinema of OutsidersVariety critic and scholar Emmanuel Levy' talks about his latest book, Cinema o f Outsiders.

by Pa t r i c i a T h omson

THE I N D E P E N D E N T January/February 2000





http://www.aivf.org

72

Upfront5 Editor’s Note

7 NewsResults from Latinos’ “brown-out” of the TV networks; an artist-run movie theater opens in Chicago.

by J a c q u e l i n e C o n c i a t o r e ;N a d i n e E k r ek

12 Wired Blue YonderFour models for presenting film on the web; noteworthy web resources.

by R ob R o w n d ; L i s a V a s t a

16 Festival CircuitThe Montreal Festival of New Cinema; Cinematexas; Mill Valley Film Festival; Raindance Film Festival.

by J erry W h i t e ; H olly W i l l i s ; B r e n d a n P e t e r s o n ; H olly H u d s o n - G r ov e s

7

16

12

Departments22 The Business PagesInsider advice on marketing your film to the industry from Mark Urmann of Lions Gate Releasing.

by Ly nn E r m a n n

Responding to “runaway production” that’s being lost to Canada, the state and federal governments are offering tax incentives of their own.

by Pe t e r W e n t w or t h

29 New TechnologyThe Film Logic program is put through its paces.

by Z ed S a e e d

Z£

FAQ & Info44 Distributor FAQStrand Releasing offers up gay-themed and foreign films, plus a slate of re-releases.


46 Funder FAQThe International Film Financing Conference (IFFCON) is a vital tool for producers seeking financing.

by M i c h e l l e C oe44

Festivals 48

Notices 53

Classifieds 57

@ A IV FEvents 60

Salons 61

Trade 63

In retrospect 72

6 0

COVER: The LegaSea underwater time capsule, one of many such cultural containers featured in Cathleen O’Connell’s upcoming documentary, Time Capsule Message in a Bottle. Cover photo: LegaSea; opposite: Westinghouse Museum; courtesy filmmaker

January February 2000 THE I N D E P E N D E N T

M A R C H 2 0 0 0 A P u b l i c a t i o n o f T h e F o u n d a t i o n f o r I n d e p e n d e n t V i d e o a n d F i l m w w w .o i v f .o r g

the IndependentFILM&VIDEO MONTHLY

PBSFOLLOW ING THE BREADCRUMBSONE-OFFS

AN ENDANGERED SPEC—

Bio Pics& LIFE STORY AGREEMENTS

THE DIGITAL DIVIDECOMING YOUR WAY SOON

$3.95 us $5.25 tan

http://www.oivf.org

t h e In d e p e n d e n t FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY

Publisher- Elizabeth Peters

Editor in Chief: Patricia Thomson [email protected]

Managing Editor; Paul Powerlin d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f.o rg l

Listings Editor. Scott Castle(fe s t iv a ls @ a iv f.o rg l

Intern; Lisa Vasta

C ontributing Editors; Richard Baimbridge, Lissa Gibbs, Mark J. Huism an, Gary 0. Larson, Cara Mertes, Barbara Bliss Osborn,


Design Director: Daniel Christm aslsta rtre e @ s p e e d site .c o m l

Advertising Director: Laura D. Davis (212 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 22 5; ld is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o rg l

•



POSTMASTER Send address changes to:The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., 6 f t , NY, NY 10013.

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine is included in annual membership dues ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library and school subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact AIVF, 304 Hudson St., 6 f t , NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 463-8519; independent@ aivf.org; www.aivf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.

Publication o f th e Independent is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad. Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index and is a member of the Independent Press Association.


AIVF/FIVF staff: Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Michelle Coe, program & information services director; LaTrice Dixon, membership & advocacy director; Donna Joyce, information services assistant; Jessica Perez, administrative director; Josh Sanchez, webmaster; Katie Cokinos. MAESTRO coordinator; Liza Donatelli, Toolkit coordinator; Eugene Hernandez, web consultant; Anne Hubbel l development ass't

AIVF/FIVF legal counsel: Robert I. Freedman, Esq.Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard

AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Doug Block, Dee Dee Halleck, Vivian Kleiman, Lee Lew- Lee, Graham Leggat, Ruby Lerner*, Richard Linklater, Cynthia Lopez*, Diane Markrow (president), Jim McKay (chair), Robb Moss (vice president), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus*, Valerie Soe (secretary).* FIVF Board of directors only.

CONTENTSMarch 2000VOLUME 23, NUMBER 2 www.aivf.org

26

F E A T U R E S

26 Following the Breadcrumb Trail through the PBS JunglePublic TV can be a Kafkaesque maze of acronyms and alliances. Here’s a field guide to the system, complete with a few back doors.

by Pa t r i c H edl und

35 The Future of the Documentary One-OffAre documentary one-offs an endangered species? One independent producer tests the waters on an excursion to MIPCOM.

by T ri sh D o l m a n

35THE. I N D E P E N D E N T March 2000


http://www.aivf.org

Upfront5 NewsTwo new advocacy groups aim for greater accountability from PBS; LA-based film foundation starts up; postproduction company proposes innovative new equity participation model.

by Pa t A u f d e r h e i d e ; K a r e n V o s s ; E mily B or r ow

11 OpinionThe medium is not the message: DV is merely another step in the evolution of small-format video.

by E llen S piro

12 Wired Blue YonderIn the rush to embrace all things web-based, let’s not forget the digital divide: the alarmingly low rates of computer ownership and Internet access for minority groups, lower income earners, and rural Americans.

by G a r y O. L a r s o n

14 Festival CircuitArt & anthropology at the Margaret Mead festival; preservation now in MIX’s mix; the Hamptons gets in gear; Havana’s cinema & cigars.

by Liz M e r m i n ; M a r k J. H u i s m a n ; S a b i n a D a n a P l a s s e ; C l aus M u e l l e r

Departments23 Legal BriefsIs your documentary subject alive and well? Then getting a life story agreement is the first order of business.

by R o b e r t L. S e i ge l

FAQ & Info38 Distributor FAQCalifornia Newsreel, one of the nation’s oldest nonprofit distributors, refocuses on African American work.


40 Funder FAQPaul Robeson Fund, part of the Funding Exchange, appreciates the significance of redistributing power as well as money.

by M i c h e l l e C oe


@ AIVF58 Events 61 Salons 64 In Retrospect

17

Cover design: Daniel ChristmasMarch 2000 THE I N D E P E N D E N T

APRIL 2000 A Publication of the Foundation for Independent Video and FilmSPO

TLIGH

TT ON

L.A. IN

DIES

t h e I n d e p e n d e n t

film & video monthly

G r e e t i n g s

f r o mL o s

A ngeles$3.95 us $5.25 con

the independentfilm & video monthly

•


Editor in Chief Patricia Thomson [email protected]

Managing Editor: Paul Powerlin d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f.o rg ]

Listings Editor: Scott Castlelfe s tiv a ls @ a iv f.o rg l

Intern: Lisa Vasta

C ontributing Editors: Richard Baimbridge, Lissa Gibbs,Mark J. Huisman, Gary 0. Larson, Cara Mertes, Rob Rownd,

Robert L. Seigel, Esq.

Design Director. Daniel Christmasls ta rtre e @ s p e e d site .c o m ]

Advertising Director: Laura D. Davis(212 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 225; ld is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o rg ]

Advertising Rep: Bob Hebert [email protected]]

•

National D istribution:Ingram Periodicals (80 0) 6 2 7-6 24 7


POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., 6 ft , NY, NY 10013. '

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the promotion of video and film. Subscription to the magazine is included in annual membership dues ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library and school subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact: AIVF] 304 Hudson St., 6 fl., NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax-. (212) 463-8519; [email protected]; www.aivf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.


Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement. AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad. Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent, The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index and is a member of the Independent Press Association.


AIVF/FIVF staff: Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Michelle Coe, program & information services director; LaTrice Dixon, membership & advocacy director,- Oonna Joyce & Justin Nathanson, information services assistants; Jessica Perez, administrative director, Josh Sanchez, webmaster; Katie Cokinos, MAESTRO coordinator; Liza Donatelli, Toolkit coordinator; Eugene Hernandez, web consultant; Anne Hubbell, development assoc.; Sushma Joshi, Michelle Nava, Rich Potter, Jeronimo Rodriguez, interns.


AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Doug Block, Dee Dee Halleck, Vivian Kleiman, Lee Lew- Lee, Graham Leggat, Ruby Lerner*, Richard Linklater, Cynthia Lopez*, Oiane Markrow (president), Jim McKay (chair), Robb Moss (vice president), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus*, Valerie Soe (secretary).* FIVF Board of Directors only.

C O N T E N T SApril 2000VOLUME 23, NUMBER 3 www.aivf.org

Upfront7 Letters 9 NewsSeven collectives create the WTO video Showdown in Seattle; Independent View debuts in San Francisco; The NEA Tapes argue for the defense.

by G eov Pa r r i s h ; B r e n d a n P e t e r s o n ; K en M i l l e r

FAQ & Info46 Distributor FAQL.A.-based Phaedra Cinema, now four years old, has taken on a slate of U.S. indies, world cinema, and Asian American features.


48 Funder FAQSince 1980, the Pacific Pioneer Fund has been a friend to political doormen- tary-makers in California, Washington, and Oregon.

by M i c h e l le C oe


12

46

9

@ AIVF68 Events69 Board Minuti70 Salons72 In Retrospec 68







http://www.aivf.org

http://www.aivf.org

16 Welcome to L.A.L.A. is the ultimate movie town. But contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t begin and end with the Hollywood studios. In this special issue o f The Independent—one in an on-going series of regional spotlights— we take a closer look at Los Angeles. As this this issue vividly shows, there’s an independent film and video scene that’s alive and well, and as sprawling and varied as the city itself.

by H olly W i l l i s , G u e s t E d i t o r

18 The Narrative Scene: L.A.’s New BreedHow the latest generation of directors works inside, alongside, and counter to the studio system.

by H olly W illi s

23 Hollywood’s Original IndependentsLong before indie filmmaking became everyone’s favorite career plan, L.A. had its share of mavericks, outsiders, and visionaries, from Roger Corman to Kenneth Anger to Charles Burnett.

by K a te H aug

26 The Experimental Scene:L.A.’s Media RenegadesNot everyone in L.A. is hawking three-act screenplays. There’s a whole parallel world of experimental media, populated by makers like William Jones, Erika Suderburg, Tran T Kim-Trang, Jesse Lerner, and Ming-Yuen S. Ma.

by S t e v e A n d e r s o n

30 A Fireside Chatwith EZTV’s Michael MasucciWords of wisdom from the director of EZTV, one of L.A.’s oldest media arts centers.

by S t e v e A n d e r s o n

31 Body Conscious:LA’s New Media SceneVenice Beach meets Bill Viola in the flourishing video installation world of Los Angeles.

by Holly W illi s

33 The Documentary Scene:The Real DealSex, Hi Tech, and Reality TV in the City of Angels:A sampler of documentary directions.

by K a r e n V oss

36 Generation nQue pasa with L.A.’s second-largest population group.

by T h o ma s W hi te

38 Survival of the Fittest:L.A. Freewaves & Visual CommunicationsHow these long-standing nonprofit media arts centers have managed to thrive in Tinsel Town.

by J im M o r a n

40 The Best Silver ScreensA film lover’s guide to L.A.’s arthouses and alternative venues.

by Ka t e Ha u g

42 Festival Fever: The L.A. Line-upBright lights, big city, and movie madness in L.A.

by K a te H aug

45 L.A. Confidential: 10 Insider SecretsWhat every filmmaker should know.

by H olly W il li s

Cover photo: Courtesy L.A. Convention & Visitors Bureau

April 2000 THE I N D E P E N D E N T

MAY 2000 A Publication of The Foundation for Independent Video and Film www.aivf.org

The lndependentFILM & VIDEO MONTHLY

Through the eyes of

FREDERICK WISEMANAlso: HOW TO PITCH YOUR DOC PLAN FOR BROADBAND

$3.95 us $5.25 can

http://www.aivf.org

the independentfilm & video monthly



Managing Editor: Paul Powerlin d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f.o rg ]

Listings Editor: Scott Castle[fe s tiv a ls @ a iv f.o r g ]

Intern: Lisa Vasta



.D esig n Director.- Daniel Christmasls ta rtre e @ s p e e d site .c o m ]

Advertising Director: Laura D. Davis(212 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 225; ld is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o rg ]

Advertising Rep: Bob Hebertlb o b @ a iv f.o r g ]

•



POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., 6 ft , NY, NY 10013.

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the advancement of media arts and artists. Subscription to the magazine is included in annual membership dues ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library and school subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact; AIVF 304 Hudson St, 6 f l , NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 463-8519; independent@ aivf.org; www.aivf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.


Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement. AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad. Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index and is a member of the Independent Press Association.


AIVF/FIVF staff: Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Michelle Coe, program & information services director; taTrice Dixon, membership & advocacy director; Oonna Joyce, information services assistant; Justin Forest Nathanson, information services assistant; Jessica Perez, administrative director; Josh Sanchez, webmaster; Katie Cokinos, MAESTRO coordinator; Liza Donatelli, Toolkit coordinator,- Eugene Hernandez, web consultant; Anne Hubbell, development associate.; Michelle Nava, Rich Potter, Jeronimo Rodriguez, interns.


AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Doug Block, Dee Dee Halleck, Vivian Kleiman, Lee Lew- Lee, Graham Leggat, Ruby Lerner* Richard Linklater, Cynthia Lopez*, Diane Markrow (president), Jim McKay (chair), Robb Moss (vice president), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus*, Valerie Soe (secretary).* FIVF Board of Directors only. .

CONTENTS

36

Features36 Frederick Wiseman: An American InspectorOne of the giants of cinema verite talks about Belfast, Maine, his 30th production, as well as his approach to filmmaking and his latest work— as a theater director.

by D e i r dr e B oyle

41 Lessons in SalesmanshipPitching projects is an acquired skill.Here’s the insiders’ perspective on what commissioning editors are looking for.

by D a vi d H outs

THE INDEPENDENT May 2000

41








http://www.aivf.org

Upfront9 NewsMexican film Herod’s Law overcomes state censorship; Pittsburgh public TV jeopardized; a new paradigm for selling work through video stores.

by B ernardo R u i z ;Pat A u f d e r h e i d e ; R i c h a r d B a i m b r i d g e

14 ProfilesSanjeev Chatterjee & Amitva Kumar;Danny Plotnick

by R o b e r t L. C a g l e ; J a s o n S a n d e r s

17 Wired Blue Yonder

The Broadband Revolution is here, but will the new delivery system live up to its well-trumpeted arrival?

by G a ry O. L a r s o n

21 Festival CircuitSundance 2000; the 50th Berlinale; the Puerto Rico International Film Festival.

by R i c h a r d B a i m b r i d g e , C a r a M e r t e s , E l i z a b e t h P e t e r s , M i c he l le C o e ; Pa ul Po w e r ; H o wa r d F e i n s t e i n

Departments32 FundingCreative Capital’s first hatch of grant recipients talk about today’s funding climate and the new foundations’s unique payback deal.

by A n d r e a M e y er

46

9

15

2 7

48

51

70

44 ScreenwritingTips on submitting your script, from a producer’s perspective.

by G ill H o l l a n d

46 Book ReviewsThis Business o f Screenwriting: How to Protect Yourself as a Screenwriter, by Ron Suppa; IFP/West Independent Filmmaker’s Manual, by Nicole Shay Laloggia and Eden H. Wurmfeld.

R e v i e w e d by L or r i S h u n d i c h ; D o n n a J oyce

FAQ & Info48 Distributor FAQCowboy Booking International has emerged as one of the more adventurous distributors, while establishing a bricks- and-mortar foothold in New York City.


51 Funder FAQYou betcha! Minnesota Independent Film Fund flies the funding flag in the Twin Cities.



@ A IV F68 Events70 In & Out of

Production71 Salons72 In Retrospect

COVER: Frederick Wiseman, photo by John Ewing, the Maine Sunday Telegram

May 2000 THE I N D E P E N D E N T

JUNE 2000A Publication of The Foundation for Independent Video and Film www.aivf.org

the IndependentFILM & VIDEO MONTHLY

M A R C s i n g e r ' S .T U N N EL VISIONALSO

RON MANN: Grazing in the GrassP u b lit TV program m ers up SPOTLIGHT on A IVF SALONS

$3.95 us $5.25 can

http://www.aivf.org

the Independent FILM&VIDEO MONTHLY

Publisher; Elizabeth Peters

Editor in Chief; Patricia Thomsonle d ito r @ a iv f.o r g ]

Managing Editor: Paul Power [[email protected]


Intern; Lisa Vasta




Advertising Director: Laura D. Davis(212 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 225; [d is p la ya d s @ a ivf.o rg l

Advertising Rep: Bob Hebert[b o b @ a iv f.o rg ]

•

National D istribution:Ingram Periodicals (800) 62 7 -6 2 4 7


POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., 6 fl., NY, NY 10013.

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the advancement of media arts and artists. Subscription to the magazine is included in annual membership dues ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student; S$100/y r nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library and school subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact: AIVF, 304 Hudson St., 6 f t , NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 463-8519; independent@ aivf.org; www.aivf.org Periodical Postage Paid at NewYork, NY, and at additional mailing offices.

Publication of The Independent is made possible in part with pub- lie funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency,

and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement. AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad. Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article’s previous appearance in The Independent The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index and is a member of the Independent Press Association.


AIVF/FIVF staff; Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Michelle Coe, program & information services director; LaTrice Dixon, membership director; Jessica Perez, administrative director; Josh Sanchez, webmaster; Anne Hubbell, development associate; Michelle Nava, Rich Potter, Jeronimo Rodriguez, interns.

AIVF/RVF legal counsel; Robert I, Freedman, Esq.Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard

AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Doug Block, Dee Dee Halleck, Vivian Kleiman, Lee Lew- Lee, Graham Leggat, Ruby Lerner*, Richard Linklater, Cynthia Lopez*, Diane Markrow (president), Jim McKay (chair), Robb Moss (vice president), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus*, Valerie Soe (secretary).*FIVF Board of Directors only.

CONTENTSJune 2000 VOLUME 2.3, NUMBER 5 www.aivf.org

Features

32 Underground CinemaAfter living with his homeless subjects in a transit tunnel for two years, Marc Singer emerged with the powerful documentary Dark Days, a fistful of awards, and a truly unique story about his filmmaking process.


28 Right on, Mann!Documentary maker Ron Mann has been chronicling pop and underground culture since the early ’80s His new film, Grass, takes an irreverent look at the U.S. administration’s incompetence in its effort to criminalize marijuana.

by Pa u l P ower

THE I N D E P E N D E N T June 2000






http://www.aivf.org

http://www.aivf.org

Upfront5 Letters

7 NewsHands-on experience for editors -in- training; dotcoms offer shorts a new lease of life; distributors launch in a crowded arena; NALIP’s July conference.

by M a r g a r e t C h a b o w s k i ; R ichardB a IMBRIDGE; PA ULP ower

13 ProfilesAviva Kempner; Lisa Gossels; Michael Camerini& Shari Robertson.

by M ark J. H u i s m a n ; E mily B o b r o w ; C leo C a c o u l i d i s

19 Festival CircuitNew York Underground Film Festival; Reel Screen Summit; Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival.

by S c o t t C a s t l e ; Pat A u f d e r h e i d e ; H enry L ewes

Departments24 Field ReportsWhat do ptv programmers really want? ITVS rounded up a few roomfuls and asked the key questions.

by Pam C a l v e r t

53 On ViewA selection of this month’s theatrical releases and TV airdates.

by S c o t t C a s t l e

35

38

22

19

6253

FAQ & Info35 Distributor FAQA solid performer in the home video market, New Video/Docurama is now making inroads into DVD.


38 Funder FAQThe Astraea National Lesbian Action Foundation, serving the lesbian community.


40 Festivals 45 Classifieds 50 Notices

@ A IV F54 Events 56 Salon SpotlightHow to start a salon, plus reports from Nebraska,Milwaukee, Albany & Boulder.

by E l i z a b e t h P e t e r s ,L a T r ic e D i x o n , L ori M a a s s V i d l a k , Dan W ilson , M ike C a m o i n &J on S t o u t

64 In Retrospect

COVER: Dark Days director Marc SingerPHOTO: RODOLPHE BARAS

June 2000 THE I N D E P E N D E N T

JULY 2000 A Publication of The Foundation for Independent Video and Film www.aivf.org

t h e I n d e p e n d e n tFILM & VIDEO MONTHLY

VIDEO I N

G A L L E R IE SPLUS LIVE VIDEO ART

Figgis Talks Time Code ONLINE FILM FESTS

$3.95 us $5.25 can

http://www.aivf.org

the Independent F IlM & m E Q m H T H lX

Publisher. Elizabeth Peters

Editor in Chief Patricia Thomson[ed ito rtg ia ivf.o rg]

M a n a g in g E d ito r P a u l P o w er [ in d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f org]

Listings Editor Scott Castle[ fe s t lv a ls @ a iv f org]

Intern Bernardo Ruiz

C ontributing Editors Richard Baimbridge, Lissa Gibbs,Mark J Huisman, Gary 0. Larson, Cara Mertes, Rob Rownd,

Robert L Seigel, Esq

Design Director Daniel Christmas[startre e @ s p e e d site .c o m ]

Advertising Director Laura D. Davis(212) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x 225, [d is p la y a d s @ a iv f org]

Advertising Rep Bob Hebert[b o b @ a iv f org]

•

National Distribution:Ingram Periodicals (800) 6 2 7-6 24 7


POSTMASTER Send address changes toThe Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., 6 f l , NY, NY 10013

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) Is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the advancement of media arts and artists. Subscription to the magazine is included in annual membership dues ($55/yr individual, $35/yr student, $100/yr nonprofit organization, $150/yr business/industry) paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library and school subscriptions are $75/yr Contact: AIVF 304 Hudson St., 6 f l , NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400, fa x (212) 463-8519, [email protected], wmv.aivf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices

Publication of The Independent is made possible in part with publ ic funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad. Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor Letters may be edited for length All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index and is a member of the Independent Press Association.


AIVF/FIVF staff. Elizabeth Peters, executive director, Michelle Coe, program & information services director, LaTrice Dixon, membership director, Jessica Perez, administrative director, Josh Sanchez, webmaster, Anne Hubbell, development associate, Jennifer Terry, intern

AIVF/FIVF legal counsel Robert I Freedman, Esq.Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard

AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors Doug Block, Dee Dee Halleck, Vivian Kleiman, Lee Lew- Lee, Graham Leggat, Ruby Lerner*, Richard Lmklater, Cynthia Lopez*, Diane Markrow (president), Jim McKay (chair), Robb Moss (vice president), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus*, Valerie Soe (secretary)* FIVF Board of Directors only.

CONTENTS

JUly 2000 VOLUME 23, NUMBER

Special Issue: EXPERIMENTAL MEDIA

32 Video’s Triumph in the GalleriesSince when did movies become the stuff of art galleries? We look at the phenomenon of limited edition videos and films and how they’re now getting the same treatment (and price tags) as fine art.

by B r ia n F rye

34 Making a Scene with Live VideoPart performance art, part video art, Live Video is popping up coast to coast. Here are four groups doing it.

by L a u r a U. M a r k s

38 Experimental Distribution: A RoundtableFive filmmakers from Sundance’s Frontier section trade opinions about dotcoms and other venues for experimental work.

by Pa t r i c i a T h omson

34

38

THE INDEPENDENT July 2000

32



Upfront4 NewsWorkers at a Spanish- language TV station resort to a hunger strike for better pay and conditions.

by B e r n a r d o R uiz

6 ProfilesSam Wells; Veena Sud.

by S a b i n a D a n a P l a s s e ;Pa ul Power

11 Festival CircuitHow film and video fared at the Whitney Biennial.

by A a r o n K r a ch

15 Wired Blue YonderMike Figgis discusses Time Code; what’s an online film festival?; Yahoo! provides one answer; Reel New York goes digital.

by M a r c o M a s o n i ; S c o t t C a s t l e ; R i c h a r d B a i m b r i d g e

Departments24 ScreenwritingThe three-act story structure with conquering hero returning home is not the only model for screenplays. Sometimes rules are made to be broken, as Jim McKay & Nick Katsapetses discuss.


28 LegalA filmmaker gives a heads- up on what to ask and what to expect when doin’ the nasty: clearing music rights.

by D e n i se O hio

4

44

11

15

52

42 TechnologyOur intrepid reporter braves Las Vegas glitz, free mimosas, countless press conferences, and miles of booths to scope out NAB 2000.

by Robert M. Goodman

FAQ & Info 44 Distributor FAQ

Electronic Arts Intermix approaches its 30th year as provider of experimental video and more.

by L i s s a G ibb s

47 Funder FAQThe art world’s Gottlieb Foundation also offers funds to painters and sculptors who incorporate video into their work.



@ A I V F60 Events63 Salons64 In Retrospect

COVER: o.T. (1997), Rosemarie Trockel's 12-channel video installation at Barbara Gladstone Gallery, part of a new wave of video art in the galleries. See feature p. 32.c o u r te s y BARBARA GLADSTONE GALLERY

July 2000 THE I N D E P E N D E N T

AUGUST/SEPTEM8ER 2000 A Publicotion of The Foundation for Independent V i d e o a n d F i l m

THE INDEPENDENTFILM & VIDEO MONTHLY

KARYN KUSAM A 'sG I R LF I G H T

ALSO

B L O C K B U S T E R ' S B A I T

S A G S A Y S I G N

T H O U S A N D W O R D S

■ ARTISTIC LICENSE$3.95 us $5.25 con

the Independentfilm & video monthly


Editor in Chief: Patricia Thomsonle d ito r@ a iv f.o rg l

Managing Editor: Paul Powerlin d e p e n d e rt@ a iv f.o rg l

Listings Editor: Scott Castlelfe s tiv a ls @ a iv f.o rg l

Intern: Bernardo Ruiz



Design Director: Daniel Christmaslsta rtre e @ s p e e d site .c o m l

Advertising Director: Laura D. Davis(212 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x. 225; ld is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o rg l

Advertising Rep: Bob Hebert [email protected]

•

National Distribution:Ingram Periodicals (800) 6 2 7-6 24 7




The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the advancement of media arts and artists. Subscription to the magazine is included in annual membership dues ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library and school subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact: AIVF 304 Hudson St., 6 fl, NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 463-8519; independent@ aivf.org; www.aivf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.


Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement. AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad. Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent. The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index and is a member of the Independent Press Association.

(c) Foundation for Independent Video & Film, Inc. 2000

AIVF/FIVF staff: Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Michelle Coe, program & information services director; LaTrice Dixon, membership director; Jessica Perez, administrative director; James Israel, information services assistant; Josh Sanchez, web consultant; Anne Hubbell, development associate; Melani Friedman, Jennifer Terry, interns.

AIVF/FIVF legal counsel; Robert I. Freedman, Esq.Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard

AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors; Doug Block, Raul Espinosa, Dee Dee Halleck, Vivian Kleiman, Lee Lew-Lee, Graham Leggat*, Ruby Lerner*, Richard Linklater, Cynthia Lopez*, Diane Markrow (president), Jim McKay (chair), Robb Moss (vice president), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus* Valerie Soe (secretary).*FIVF Board of Directors only

CONTENTSAugust/Septembei 2000 VOLUME 23, NUMBER 7 wwwyaivf.org

Features 34

34 Kusama’s KnockoutDirector Karyn Kusama survived some tough bouts while making her debut film, Girlfight. Read the blow-by-blow' account of how this award-winning director went the distance.

by B eth P i nsker

38 Seeing the LightDeclaring a major in college is only step one. How do film/video instructors inspire their students and break them out of their mainstream-fed conventions?

by Rob S abal &J oanna S abal

3842 DV to 35mm: Putting Transfers to the TestAs DV becomes the norm, more and more directors will face the decision of where to do their video-to-film transfer. The Independent sent identical footage to 10 facilities to examine the differences.

by Robert M. Goodman

42

THE I N D E P E N D E N T August/September 2000


http://www.aivf.org

Upfront5 NewsBlockbuster Video plays the independent card; the demise of the National Education Media Network.

by B e r n a r d o R u i z ; B r e n d a n P e t e r s o n

13 ProfilesCarlos Avila; Hilary Birmingham.

by C a r l o s S an M i g u e l ; H olly W illi s

17 Wired Blue YonderWeb sites to simplify your life: Cinemascout.com takes location scouting virtual; Licensemusic.com adds ease to obtaining music rights.

by K a r e n V o s s ;R i c h a r dB a i m b r i d g e

20 Festival CircuitCannes 2000; Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film and Video Festival.

by B a r b a r a S c h a r r e s ; R ob er t Ito

Departments29 Field ReportA look at funding opportunities in the U.K. to see if the grass is indeed greener on the other side of the pond.

by H olly H u d s o n - G r oves

32 LegalDon’t assume anything with SAG’s Distribution Assumption Agreements.

by R obert L. S ei ge l

548

13

50

53

17

26

29

FAQ & Info

48 Distributor FAQArtistic License finds small films the big

1 audiences they deserve.


50 Funder FAQThousand Words Finishing Fund strives to take risks and give directors the resources to

I create innovative work.



@ A IV F67 Events 69 Salons 72 In Retrospect

COVER: Michelle Rodriguez in Karyn Kusama's G irlfig h t; photo Abbot Genser, courtesy Screen Gems

S A G 32

August,'September 2000 THE I N D E P E N D E N T

OCTOBER 2000A Publication of The Foundation for Independent Video and Film www.oivf.ors

DOCUMENTARY SPECIAL ISSUEthe independent

FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY

DOCUMENTARY SUBJECTS

S P E A K

O U TA L S O

MTV GETS REALDOC RIGS FOR 2

Kaytee from American High

$3.95 us $5.25 can

http://www.oivf.ors



Editor in Chief: Patricia Thomson [email protected]

Managing Editor.- Paul Powerlin d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f.o rg l

Listings Editor: Scott Castlelfe s tiv a ls @ a iv f.o r g ]

Intern: Jim Colville

C ontributing Editors: Richard Baimbridge, Lissa Gibbs,Gary 0. Larson, Cara Mertes, Rob Rownd, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.

Design Director-. Daniel Christm asls ta r tre e @ s p e e d site .c o m ]

Advertising Director: Laura D. Davis(212 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x. 22 5; ld is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o rg ]


•

National Distribution.- Ingram Periodicals (80 0) 6 2 7 -6 24 7


POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., 6 f t , NV, NY 10013.

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the advancement of media arts and artists. Subscription to the magazine is included in annual membership dues ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student; $100/y r nonprofit organization,- $150/yr business/industry) paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library and school subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact: AIVF 304 Hudson St., 6 ft., NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 463-8519; independent@ aivf.org; www.aivf.org Periodical Postage Raid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.

Publication of The Independent is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and tbe National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.



AIVF/FIVF staff: Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Michelle Coe, program & information services director; James Israel & Moikgantsi Kgama-Gates, information services assistants; Josh Sanchez, web consultant; Anne Hubbell, development associate,- Daniel Fedlman, Nina Rambarran, interns; AIVF/FIVF legal counsel: Robert I. Freedman,Esq. Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard

Visit the Independent online at: www.aivf.org

AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors-. Doug Block, Paul Espinosa, Dee Dee Halleck, Vivian Kleiman, Lee Lew-Lee, Graham Leggat*, Ruby Lerner*, Richard Linklater, Cynthia Lopez*, Diane Markrow (president), Jim McKay (chair), Robb Moss (vice president), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus*, Valerie Soe (secretary).*FIVF Board of Directors only.

CONTENTS

October 2000 VOLUME 23, NUM&j

32

Features26 MTV’s Reel WorldThe music network begins an expansion of its news & documentary department.

by A my G o o d ma n

29 Gearing UpA loW'budget DV rig for a two-person crew. x

by S t e v e B o g n a r

32 Life in a FishbowlWhat it’s like to he a documentary' film subject. Also: What to know when dealing with teens.

by T h oma s W hi te

26

THE I N D E P E N D E N T October 2000






http://www.aivf.org

http://www.aivf.org

Upfront6 Letters

9 NewsMadstone-’s manna from heaven; Austin airport becomes film studio; two states woo runaway production with tax incentives.

B y E mily B o b r o w ; C ar y L. R o b e r t s ; B r e n d a n P e t e r s o n

17 ProfilesJilann Spitzmiller & Hank Rogerson’s Homeland; Laurie Collyer’s Nuyorican Dream.

by J erry W h i t e ; B e r n a r d o R uiz

20 Festival CircuitWild life in Missoula;Sunny Side of the Doc in Marseilles.

by C a r l M r o z e k ; H enry L ewes

Departments36 TechnologyGetting good sound with your DV camera.

by L a r r y L o e w i n g e r

12 20

40

36

23

60

42

FAQ & Info40 Distributor FAQSince 1972, Women Make Movies has been saying it loud and proud.

by L i s s a G ibbs

42 Funder FAQThe Fund for Jewish Documentary Filmmaking, where content is king.


45 Classifieds 49 Festivals 54 Notices

@ A!VF60 Events63 Salons64 In Retrospect

COVER: Kaytee, one of the teens featured in R.J Cutler’s A m e ric a n H ig h . For a perspective on what it’s like to be a documentary subject, see Thomas White’s "Life in a Fishbowl.” Photo Lisa Maizlish, courtesy Fox Broadcasting Co.

NOVEMBER 2000 A P u b lic a t io n o f t h e F o u n d a t io n f o r I n d e p e n d e n t V id e o a n d F ilm www.aivf.orq

AIV

F AT 25t h e

In d e p e n d e n t F IL M A N D V ID E O M O N T H L Y

CONVENSI ONAL WISDOM

ALTERNATIVE COVERAGEOF THE POLICAL CONVENTIONS

Silent March for Gun Control at the Republican National Convention

$3.95 us S5.25 can

http://www.aivf.orq

the independent FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY

Publisher, Elizabeth Peters


Managing Editor: Paul Power[in d ep en d en t@ a ivf.o rg l


Intern: Jim Colvill

C ontributing Editors: Richard Baimbridge, Lissa Gibbs,Gary 0, Larson, Cara Mertes, Rob Rownd, Robert L. Seigel, Esq,

Design Director: Daniel Christmasls ta r tre e @ s p e e d s ite .c o m]

Advertising Director: Laura D, Davis(212 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x. 22 5; ld is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o rg ]


•

National Distribution:Ingram Periodicals (800) 62 7 -6 2 4 7


POSTMASTER: Send address changes to;The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., 6 fl., NY, NY 10013.

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the advancement of media arts and artists. Subscription to the magazine is included in annual membership dues ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student; $100/yr nonprofit organization,- $150/yr business/industry) paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library and school subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact: AIVR 304 Hudson St,, 6 fl,, NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax-. (212) 463-8519; independent@ aivf.org; www.aivf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.


Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement, AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad. Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc, Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent. The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index and is a member of the Independent Press Association,


AIVF/FIVF staff; Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Michelle Coe, program & information services director; James Israel & Moikgantsi Kgama-Gates, information services assistants; Josh Sanchez, web consultant; Anne Hubbell, development associate; Adam Eisenberg, Renee Griffith, Tricia Peters, interns; AIVF/FIVF legal counsel: Robert I. Freedman,Esq. Cowan, OeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard

Visit the Independent online at: www.aivf.org

AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Doug Block, Paul Espinosa, Dee Dee Halleck, Vivian Kleiman, Lee Lew-Lee, Graham Leggat*, Ruby Lerner*, Richard Linklater, Cynthia Lopez*, Diane Markrow (president), Jim McKay (chair), Robb Moss (vice president), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus*, Valerie Soe (secretary),*FIVF Board of Directors only.

C O N T E N T SNovember 2000

VOLUME 23,

NUMBER 9

www.aivf.org4

F e a tu re ?27 Happy Anniversary, AIVFThis year AIVF celebrates its 25th annrva- sary. On this occasion, we look back at a few of AIVF’s achievements in advocacy and other good deeds for in d e p e n d e n t

by. Elizabeth Pe t e b s , Paul P o w e r S c o t t Castle &. . . Patri ci a T homson

32 Collective ConsciousAn interview with Skip B ■ g and Linda Iannacone at the 2000 Convention, part of the collective Democracy Now. .,

BY Patri ci a T homson .

PHOTO THIS PAGE: LISA MINELLAT H E I N D E P E N D E N T November 2000






http://www.aivf.org

http://www.aivf.org

http://www.aivf.org

Upfront6 NewsHow the Academy Awards offers opportunities for independents (it’s not what you think).

by R ichard Baimbridge

9 Wired Blue Yonder

Creating content for streaming to palm devices.

by J ennifer U scher

12 Festival CircuitShorts never get short shrift at Oberhausen; Sarajevo reinvents itself five years after the war.

by Ernest Lar sen ; Patri ci a T homson

Departments19 Field ReportsA visit to the Cuban International Film & TV School; tracking Deutschmarks at Germany’s NRW Foundation.

by Libby B a s s e t t ; C laus Mueller

38 Business PagesThe demise of Jane Balfour Films and the state of the foreign sales market.

by Robert Goodman

42

6 46

14

38

FAQ & Info42 Distributor FAQHeading into its 30th year, New Day Films is a distribution cooperative run by filmmakers for filmmakers.

by Lissa G ibbs

46 Funder FAQNow 35 years old, the National Endowment for the Humanities has been one of the most substantial funders of public television documentaries.

by M ichelle C oe


@ A IV F61 Events63 Salons64 In Retrospect

COVER: A scene outside the Republican National Convention: the Silent March for Gun Control, photographed by Greg Fuchs, part of the IMC team. See story pg. 32.

November 2000 THE I N D E P E N D E N T

DECEMBER 2000 A Publication of The Foundation for Independent Video and Film www.aivf.org


JAY ROSENBLATTS

KINGO F T H E

JEWSALSO:

ACTIVIST FILMS SCREENPLAY OPTIONS

EUROPE'S ARTE53.95 us $5.25 can

http://www.aivf.org






Intern: Jim Colvill

C ontributing Editors: Richard Baimbridge, Lissa Gibbs,Gary 0. Larson, Cara Mertes, Rob Rownd, Robert L, Seigel, Esq.

Design Director: Daniel Christmasls ta r tre e @ s p e e d site .c o m !

Advertising Director. Laura D, Davis(212 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x, 225; ld is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o rg ]

Advertising Rep: Bob Hebert [b o b @ a iv f.o rg l

•

National Distribution:Ingram Periodicals (800) 62 7 -6 2 4 7


POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St,, 6 fl,, NY, NY 10013,

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published month[y except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the advancement of media arts and artists. Subscription to the magazine is included in annual membership dues ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student; $100/yr nonprofit organization; $150/yr business/industry) paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library and school subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact: AIVF, 304 Hudson St, 6 fl.; NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax. (212) 463-8519; [email protected]; www.aivf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.


Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement. AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad. Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article’s previous appearance in The Independent The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index and is a member of the Independent Press Association.

© Foundation for Independent Video & Film, Inc, 2000

AIVF/FIVF staff: Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Alexander Spencer, administrative director; Michelle Coe, program & information services director; Thalia Harithas, Membership Coordinator; James Israel & Moikgantsi Kgama-Gates, information services assistants; Greg Gilpatrick & Josh Sanchez, web consultants; Anne Hubbell, development associate; Shane Bunnag, Adam Eisenberg, Renee Griffith, Tricia Peters, interns; AIVF/FIVF legal counsel: Robert I, Freedman,Esq. Cowan, OeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard

Visit The Independent online at: www.aivf.org

AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Doug Block, Paul Espinosa, Dee Dee Halleck, Vivian Kleiman, Lee Lew-Lee, Graham Leggat*, Ruby Lerner*, Richard Linklater, Cynthia Lopez*, Diane Markrow (president), Jim McKay (chair), Robb Moss (vice president), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus*, Valerie Soe (secretary).*FIVF Board of Oirectors only.

C O N T E N T SDecember 2000.

36

Features

32 Why Make Activist Films?A roundtable discussion featuring six documentarians from this year’s Human Rights Watch Film Festival.

by B e r n a r d o R uiz

36 Jay Rosenblatt’s Excavations of the PsycheAn interview with Jay Rosenblatt, whose startling imagery and lingering themes have deservedly spread his name far beyond his Bay Area base.

by M i c h a e l F ox

32

THE I N D E P E N D E N T December 2000





http://www.aivf.org

http://www.aivf.org

Upfront5 NewsIdaho Republicans vs. public TV; Getty’s new royalty-free stock footage; Zoetrope’s virtual studio; IFILM gets Internet shorts their shot at an Oscar.

by E a r l Y o u n g ; T a m a r a K r i n s k y ; B r e n d a n P e t e r s o n ; S c o t t C a s t l e

12 ProfilesDeann Borshay Liem’s First Person Plural;David Shapiro & Laurie Gwen Shapiro’s Keep the River on Your Right: A Modem Cannibal Tale.

by B r en d a n P e t e r s o n ;A a r o n K r a ch

14 Wired Blue Yonder

The Mighty Mississip’ becomes a testing ground for new HDTV field cameras.

by S c o t t C a s t l e

16 Festival CircuitThe IFP Market debuts its new moniker; Toronto celebrates 25th year.

by S c o t t C a s t l e ; Pa u l P ower

Departments24 Legal BriefsKnow what your options are before optioning your screenplay.

by R ob e rt L. S ei ge l

26 Field ReportsIn eight short years Arte has changed not only European television, but television itself.

by C l aus M u el le r

1

26

13

31

16

43

44

FAQ & Info41 Distributor FAQSince 1962 Canyon Cinema has championed the underground and the avant-garde.


44 Funder FAQFor 35 years the Playboy Foundation has provided funding for social issue documentaries.


47 Festivals

50 Notices

56 Classifieds

@ A IV F60 Events

62 Salons

63 In & Out of Production

64 In Retrospect

COVER: Hollywood's images of Jesus Christ, like King of Kings (pictured), are part of Jay Rosenblatt’s compelling meditation on Christ's Jewishness in the short film King of the Jews.

December 2000 THE I N D E P E N D E N T

January/February 2001 A Publication af The Foundation for Independent Video and Film www.aivf.org

the lndependentFILM & VIDEO MONTHLY

G O O DMACHINES

1 s t D E C A D Ei r ~ * * i

-Micnelle Yeoh in Good Machine's latest release

Crouching Tiger- Hidden Dragon

http://www.aivf.org


•


Editor in Chief: Patricia Thomsonle d ito r @ a iv f .org]

Managing Editor. Paul Powerlin d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f.o rg ]

Listings Editor: Scott Castlelfe s tiv a ls @ a iv f.o r g ]

Intern: Jim Colvill

Contributing Editors: Richard Baimbridge, Lissa Gibbs,Gary 0. Larson, Cara Mertes, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.

Design Director. Daniel Christmasls ta r tre e @ s p e e d s iie .c o m ]

Advertising Director: Laura D. Davis(212 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x. 225; ld is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o rg ]


•





The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the advancement of media arts and artists. Subscription to the magazine is included in annual membership dues ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student; $100/yr nonprofit/school; $150/yr business/industry) paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact: AIVF 304 Hudson St., 6 fl., NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 463-8519; [email protected]; www.aivf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.




AIVF/FIVF staff.- Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Alexander Spencer, administrative director,- Michelle Coe, program director; Thalia Harithas, membership coordinator; James Israel & Moikgantsi Kgama-Gates, information services assistants; Greg Gilpatrick & Josh Sanchez, web consultants; Anne Hubbell, development associate,- Shane Bunnag, Adam Eisenberg, Renee Griffith, Tricia Peters, interns; AIVF/FIVF legal counsel: Robert I. Freedman,Esq. Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard


AIVF/FIVF Board of Oirectors: Doug Block, Paul Espinosa, Dee Dee Halleck, Vivian Kleiman, Lee Lew-Lee, Graham Leggat*, Ruby Lemer*, Richard Linklater, Cynthia Lopez*, Diane Markrow (president), Jim McKay (chair), Robb Moss (vice president), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), Robert Richter (treasurer), James Schamus* Valerie Soe (secretary), “ FIVF Board of Directors only.

CONTENTSJ anuary/February 2001 VOLUME 24, NUMBER 1 www.aivf.org

32

FEATURES

32 Good Machine Turns 10A took back at the first decade o f Good in • •• ne

b y B e t h P i n s k e r

36 PBS’s Pat MitchellAfter a year On the job new PBS head Pat Mitchell discusses her background as an independent producer and her plans for PBS,

BY PATRIC H e d l u n d

40 ITVS’s Dramatic Possibilities

Checking up on ITVS’s dramatic fiction strand, American Stories.

by G a b r i e l l e I d

3

40

THE I NDEPENDENT January/February 2001







http://www.aivf.org

http://www.aivf.org

http://www.aivf.org

Upfront7 NewsIFFCON and EVEO’s virtual pitch; Solaris’ new finishing fund; The Shooting Gallery and cineBLAST! buyouts; ITVS’s Jim Yee retires; A m erica n H igh back on the air; more funds at Jerome.

by Brendan Pe t e r s o n ; T amara K ri ns ky ; Paul Power

15 OpinionR equiem fo r a D ream ’s producer calls for a re-examination of the ratings process.

by Eric Watson

16 Wired Blue YonderScreenwriter 2000 allows two writers to work on the same script at the same time on-line.

by Paul Power

18 Festival CircuitViews from the Avant Garde at the New York Film Festival

by B rian F rye

Departments22 BooksEmile de Antonio in the first person.

by B rian Frye

24 TechnologyA sampler of visual effects, animation, and compression software for your desktop editing system.

by G reg G ilpatrick

28 LegalHow WGA, DGA, and SAG are dealing with Internet and multimedia contracts.

by Robert S eic. el

7 22

15

44

24

46

31

31 On ViewA selection of this month’s releases and TV airdates.

by J im C olvill

FAQ & Info44 Distributor FAQShooting Gallery Entertainment gives overlooked features a chance— and comes out a winner.

by L i ssa G ibbs

46 Funder FAQVenice, CA-based Echo Lake Productions provides financin for narrative features.

by M ichelle C oe


@AIVF64 Events66 Salons67 M em ber Benefits

COVER: M ichelle Yeoh in Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Good M achine's latest release.PHOTO: CHAN KAM CHUEN.COURTESY SONY PICTURES CLASSICS.

January February 2001 THE I NDE P E NDE NT

MARCH 2001 A Publication of The Foundation for Independent Video and Film www.aivf.org

FICTION FILMSwith an Activist Anglethe independent


Christopher Nolan's

FORGET ME

NOT$3.95 us $5.25 con

http://www.aivf.org




Managing Editor: Paul Power, Richard Baimbridgelin d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f.o rg ]

A ssistant Editor: Scott Castlelfe s tiv a ls @ a iv f.o r g ]

Interns: Jim C olvill, Dan Steinhart

C ontributing Editors: Richard Baimbridge, Lissa Gibbs,Cara Mertes, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.


Advertising Director: Laura D. Davis(212 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x. 225; ld is p la y a d s @ a iv f.org]

Advertising Rep.- Bob Hebertlb o b @ a iv f.o r g ]

•

National D istribution: ■Ingram Periodicals (800) 62 7 -6 2 4 7




The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (fiVF), a tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the advancement of media arts and artists. Subscription to the magazine is included in annual membership dues ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student; $100/yr nonprofit/school; $150/yr business/ industry) paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (A M ), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact: AIVF, 304 Hudson St, 6 fl., NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 463-8519; independent@ aivf.org; www.aivf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.


Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement. AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad. Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article’s previous appearance in The Independent. The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index and is a member of the Independent Press Association.


AIVF/FIVF staff: Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Alexander Spencer, administrative director; Michelle Coe, program director; Thalia Harithas, membership coordinator; James Israel & Moikgantsi Kgama-Gates, information services assistants; Greg Gilpatrick & Joshua Sanchez, web consultants; Anne Hubbell, development associate; Melissa Ainley, Renee Griffith, Margot Hernandez, Noriko Yoshinaga, interns; AIVF/FIVF legal counsel: Robert I. Freedman, Esq. Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard.


AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Angela Alston, Doug Block, Paul Espinosa, Dee Dee Halleck, Vivian Kleiman, Lee Lew-Lee, Graham Leggat*, Ruby Lerner* Cynthia Lopez*, Jim McKay (chair), Robb Moss (vice president), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), James Schamus*, Valerie Soe (secretary), Ellen Spiro, Bart Weiss. *FIVF Board of Directors only.

C O N T E N T SMarch 2001VOLUME 24, NUMBER 2www.aivf.org

Features

32 Christopher Nolan’s Revenge Redux

Christopher Nolan’s refreshingly original and stylish second feature, Memento, is an object lesson in storytelling, editing, and how memory works.

by A nnie N ocenti

36 Dream MakersT h e D ream C a tch er team undertook an ambitious outreach program directed at youth in juvenile detention centers. Here’s how •the did it.

by J ulia R eichert

40 Una Experiencia Sin Igual

After La C iudad played in New York arthouses, its director set out to rerelease the film in Latino sections of the city— and offers his distribution blueprint here.

by David Riker 32

' J ji

THE I NDEPENDENT March 2001







http://www.aivf.org

http://www.aivf.org

http://www.aivf.org


6 Letters

9 NewsThe latest convolutions in AMPAS’s rules for qualifying shorts for the Oscars; Off the Press, a new story-idea service, Seattle’s 911 takes the lead in streaming media; theme nights at ZDF.by S cott C a s t l e ;J im C olvi ll ;S hannon G e e ;C laus Mueller

15 ProfilesKathy Leichter & Jonathan Skurnik’s A D ay's W ork, A D a y ’s Pay; Steven Fischler & Joel Sucher’s From Sw astika to Jim C ro w ; Hannah Weyer’s La B od a .

by R ichard Bai mbri dge , Aaron K ra ch ;J erry White

20 Festival CircuitGettin’ funky with L.A. Freewaves; Dublin’s new Doclands market and fest, indigenous films galore at IMAGINENative; an experimental fest debuts at Telluride. by J im Mo r a n ;M.M. SERRA ;Donal O ’C ei lleachai r ; Faye G insburg

22

9

46

25

46

23

62

27

Departments

27 TechnologyWhat to look for in a radio mic, plus tips for properly attaching a lavalier.by Larry L oewinger

FAQ & Info43 Distributor FAQMediaRights.org provides one-

stop shopping for organizers looking for social-issue films and activist filmmakers looking for like-minded organizations. by L issa G ibbs

| 46 Funder FAQFilm Arts Foundation, a vital

source of funding for Bay Area mediamakers, has five different grant programs.

by M i chelle C oe


@AIVF61 Events

62 In & Out of Productionby J im C olvill

63 Salons

Cover: Guy Pearce in Christopher Nolan's M em en to . Photo by Danny Rothenberg

March 2001 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

APRIL 2001 A P ub lica tion a f The Faundatian fo r In dependen t V ideo and F ilm w w w .a iv f.a rg

the IndependentBRAD ANDERSON'S

HI-DEFHORROR

F I L MHERALDS 24P

ALSOMicro-distributorsBUFFALO SPOTLIGHTWalking Life

$4.95 US S6.95 CAN


http://www.aivf.arg

the independent FIL M S VIDEO MONTHLY


Editor in Chief: Patricia Thomsonle d it o r @ a iv f .org]

Managing Editor: Paul Power, Richard Baimbridge [[email protected]]

Assistant Editor: Scott Castle[fe s tiv a ls @ a iv f.o r g ]

Interns: Jim C olvill, Dan Steinhart

Contributing Editors: Richard Baimbridge, Lissa Gibbs,Cara Mertes, Robert L. Seigel, Esq,

Design Director: Daniel Christmas[s ta rtre e @ s p e e d site .c o m ]

Advertising Director: Laura D, Davis(212 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x. 22 5; ld is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o rg ]

Advertising Rep: Bob Hebert[b o b @ a iv f.o r g ]

•



POSTMASTER: Send address changes to.-The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., 6 fl,, NY, NY 10013.

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the advancement of media arts and artists. Subscription to the magazine is included in annual membership dues ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student; $100/yr nonprofit/school; $150/yr business/ industry) paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact.- AIVF 304 Hudson St., 6 fl,, NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 463-8519; independent@ aivf.org; www.aivf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices.


Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement. AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad. Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article’s previous appearance in The Independent. The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index and is a member of the Independent Press Association,


AIVF/FIVF staff.- Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Alexander Spencer, administrative director; Michelle Coe, program director; James Israel & Moikgantsi Kgama- Gates, information services assistants; Greg Gilpatrick & Joshua Sanchez, web consultants; Anne Hubbell, development associate; Noriko Yoshinaga, intern; AIVF/FIVF legal counsel. Robert I. Freedman, Esq. Cowan, OeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard,


AIVF/FIVF Board of Oirectors; Angela Alston, Doug Block, Paul Espinosa (treasurer), Dee Dee Halleck, Vivian Kleiman, Lee Lew-Lee (secretary), Jim McKay (co-chair), Robb Moss (president), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), James Schamus*, Valerie Soe (vice president), Ellen Spiro, Bart Weiss (co-chair), Oebra Zimmerman*.*FIVF Board of Oirectors only.

C O N T E N T S

April 2001 VOLUME 24, NUMBER 3 www.aivf.org

Features31 M icro-d istributors up closeTaking a lead from small record labels and DIY filmmakers, a new breed of micro-distributor is on the rise. Here’s a look at three.

by B rian F rye

34 Testing the Lim its: HD24pBrad Anderson’s Session 9 was shot using Sony’s revolutionary High Definition 24p camera, the CineAlta. The director and his cinematographer, Uta Briesewitz, assess the experience.

by Pat ri ci a T homson

THE I NDEPENDENT April 2001






http://www.aivf.org

http://www.aivf.org

http://wwW.aivf.org

Upfront7 NewsLandmark Theatres in Texas finds a place for a local son’s shorts; reading the fine print for AFI’s Sony DVCam Fest.

by C ynthia Hand N eely; S c o t t C astle

11 Wired Blue YonderProprietary software finds its soulmate in Richard Linklater’s animated W aking L ife; three new media spaces open in New York City.

by Brian Po ys e r ;J oy D ietrich

14 Festival CircuitOpen arms for digital video at IFFCON; a report from Sundance 2001: the vibe, the films, the online festival, and the Lab films.

by M ichael Fo x ; R ichard Ba i m b r i d g e , Karen V oss &Pat ri ci a T homson

Departments22 Field Reports: Buffalo, New YorkMicro films and public access TV, plus a look at the numbers.

by G hen D e n n i s , S tephani e G ray, C arl Mrozek

38 TechnologyA review of the CineAlta, Sony’s High Definition 24p camera.

by Robert M. G oodman

40 BooksMovie W ars, by Jonathan Rosenbaum; T h e B iz, by Schuyler M. Moore.

by Robert N e l s o n ; Innes G uminsky

FAQ & Info42 Distributor FAQThe Brothers Lipsky bring their considerable expertise in new media and traditional distribution to bear on their new venture, Lot 47 Films.

by L issa G ibbs

46 Funder FAQNewMarket Capital has a history of financing independent films, and this spring started distributing them as well, beginning with M em en to.

by M ichelle C oe


@AIVF60 Events 63 Salons

42

13

16

22

41

COVER: Actor and cowriter Steve Gevedon in Brad Anderson's S e s s i o n 9 . Photo:Claire Folger, courtesy USAFilms.

46

April 2001 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

MAY 2001 A Publication of The Foundation for Independent Video and Film www.aivf.org

SPECIAL ISSUEPUBLIC TELEVISION

the ndependenfFILM & VIDEO MONTHLY

M A T T E RS O F R A C E

ROUNDTABLE

ALSOWhy Three-Act Docs?

Picking ITVS’s Winners DVD Home Brew

The producer; of Roja Productions

$4.95 US, S6.95 W P

http://www.aivf.org

the independentn FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY


Editor in Chief: Patricia Thomsonle d it o r @ a iv f .org]

Managing Editor: Paul Powerlin d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f.org]

Assistant Editor: Scott Castle|fe s tiv a ls @ a iv f.o r g |

Interns: Dan Steinhart, Jim Colvill


Design Director: Daniel Christm asls ta r tre e @ s p e e d s ite .com]

Advertising Director: Laura D. Davis(212 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x. 225; ld is p la y a d s @ a iv f.org]

Advertising Rep: Bob Hebert lb o b @ a iv f .org]

•



The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., 6 fl., NV, N V 10013.

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the advancement of media arts and artists. Subscription to the magazine is included in annual membership dues ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student; SlOO/yr nonprofif/school; $150/yr business/ industry) paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact: AIVF, 304 Hudson St., 6 fl., NV, NV 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 463-8519; independent@ aivf.org; www.aivf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. Printed in the USA by Cadmus Journal Services.




AIVF/FIVF staff: Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Alexander Spencer, administrative director; Michelle Coe, program director; James Israel, information services associate,- Greg Gilpatrick & Joshua Sanchez, web consultants; Anne Hubbell, development associate; Rani Soppa, Noriko Yoshinaga, interns; AIVF/FIVF legal counsel: Robert I. Freedman, Esq. Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard.


AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors.- Angela Alston, Doug Block, Paul Espinosa (treasurer), Dee Dee Halleck, Vivian Kleiman, Lee Lew-Lee (secretary), Jim McKay (co-chair), Robb Moss (president), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), James Schamus*, Valerie Soe (vice president), Ellen Spiro, Bart Weiss (co-chair), Jack Willis*, Debra Zimmerman*. *FIVF Board of Directors only.

C O N T E N T SMay 2001VOLUME 24, NUMBER 4 www.aivf.org

FEATURES

26 Roja Roundup: On Matters of RaceThere’s no topic more loaded than race. But Orlando Bagwell’s Roja Productions is plungingright into the thick of it with its public television series M atters o f Race. In this roundtable,the produce is talk about the shows’ challenges and potential._ '

by S am Po l l a r d

31 CPB’s Diversity FundA new funding pool for public TV projects by minority producers.by B ob C onnelly

32 Inside the ITVS Jury RoomOne producer’s experience on an ITVS panel, and her advice on how to make your application one of the 5% that receives funding. 1

by F ran ces N e g r o n - Muntaner

36 Stranger Than Fiction: Thoughts on Documentary StorytellingWith three-act storystructure all the rage among documentary makers and buyers, one filmmaker (and his father) wonder whether there’s still room for alternatives. by Ralph A rlyck

"Three - act D ocs?

I Say facaktah Bubbemeises!

THE INDEPENDENT May 2001


http://www.aivf.org

http://www.aivf.org

http://www.aivf.org

Upfront5 NewsBush’s lead on arts funding and digital carriage; a new cable outlet for independents in New York City; Crossover dreams.

by Matt S p an gl er ;J im C o l v i l l ; Paul Power

11 OpinionHow to put the pu blic into interactive public television.

by J eff C hester

12 Wired Blue YonderDVD authoring in the comfort of your home computer.

by G reg G ilpatrick

14 ProfilesWorking Films’ Judith Helfand & Robert West; Loni Ding’s A ncestors in the A m ericas',Laura Wilson and Cityscape Motion Picture Education

by N icole Be t a n c o u r t ; T omio G e r o n ; R ob S abal

18 Festival CircuitA changing of the guard at the Berlinale; the global influence of Rotterdam’s Cinemart.

by C laus Mu e l l e r ; S c ot t C astle

Departments38 BooksTwo new books about Black filmmaking pioner Oscar Micheaux; A vid Editing: A G u id e fo r B egin nin g and Interm ediate Users

by B rian Frye ; G reg G ilpatrick

9

12

42

21

45

38

41 On ViewIndependent projects opening or airing this month.

by Dani el S t ei nh art

FAQ & Info42 Distributor FAQPBS Home Video putsKen Burns &. Co. in your VCR.

by L issa G ibbs

45 Funder FAQThe National Black Programming Consortium, a driving engine behind two decades of African-American public television productions.

by M i chelle C oe

49 Festivals

53 Notices

57 Classifieds

@AIVF60 Events

62 Salons

COVER: Delving into matters of race: Roja Productions’ [standing L-R]C am illa Haddad, Jacquie Jones, Tracye Matthews, Orlando Bagwell;[seated L-R] M ichelle Materre, John Valadez, Sindy Gordon, and Felicia Lowe. Photo: Tom LeGoff

M a y 2 001 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

JUN E 2001 A Publication of The Foundation for Independent Video and Film www.aivf.org

SPOTLIGHT ON YOUTH MEDIA

the independentF I L M & V I D E O MONTHLY

C h e r y l D u n y e G o e sINSIDET H E

SLAMMER

Yolanda Ross in Cheryl Dunye's Stranger Inside

$4.95 us $6.95 can


Publisher. Elizabeth Peters


Editor: Beth Pinsker[e d ito r @ a iv f.o r g ]

Managing Editor: Paul Powerl in d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f.org]

A ssistant Editor: Scott Castlelfe s t iv a ls @ a iv f .org]


C ontributing Editors-, Richard Baimbridge, Lissa Gibbs,Cara Mertes, Robert L. Seigel, Esq.

Design Director-, Daniel Christmasls ta r tre e @ s p e e d s ite .com]

Advertising Director: Laura D. Davis(212 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x. 225; ld is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o rg ]

Advertising Rep: Bob Hebert ( b o b @ a iv f .org]

•


POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., 6 f t , NY, NY 10013.

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the advancement of media arts and artists. Subscription to the magazine is included in annual membership dues ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student; S$100/yr nonprofit/school, $150/yr business/ industry) paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact. AIVE 304 Hudson St,, 6 ft, NY NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 463-8519; independent@ aivf.org; www.aivf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. Printed in the USA by Cadmus Journal Services,


Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement, AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad. Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc, Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index and is a member of the Independent Press Association.


AIVF/FIVF staff: Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Alexander Spencer, deputy director; Michelle Coe, program director; Paul Marchant, membership coordinator; James Israel, information services associate; Bo Mehrad, information services assistant; Greg Gilpatrick & Joshua Sanchez, web consultants; Anne Hubbell, development associate; Nikki Byrd, Rani Soppa, Noriko Yoshinaga, interns; AIVF/FIVF legal counsel Robert I, Freedman, Esq. Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard.


AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Angela Alston, Doug Block, Paul Espinosa (treasurer), Dee Dee Halleck, Vivian Kleiman, Jim McKay (co-chair), Robb Moss (president), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), James Schamus*, Valerie Soe (vice president), Ellen Spiro, Bart Weiss (co-chair), Jack Willis, Debra Zimmerman*. *FIVF Board of Directors only.

C O N T E N T S

June 2001VOLUME 24, NUMBER 5 www.aivf.org

Features32 Breaking OutCheryl Dunye nabs big audiences on the small screen with her HBO prison feature, Stranger Inside.

by H olly W illis

SPECIALYOUTHMEDIA

18

25

18

32

Special Focus:Youth Media18 Growth PotentialWhy form a new national distribution network for youth media?

by M indy Faber & Dalida Maria Benfield

22 A Day in the LifeIn Baltimore, a new youth media program brings Black and Jewish teens together.

by A nn H ornaday

25 Toxic AvengersHigh school students become video activists on the trail of illegal waste dumping in New York’s Orange county.

by Harri et te Yahr

28 Media Lit Goes NationalA new organization, the Alliance for a Media Literate America, holds its founding conference this month.

by Lucinda Furlong





http://www.aivf.org

http://www.aivf.org

http://www.aivf.org


6 NewsIndependent filmmakers partner with independent video stores; archival film clips offered for free.

by Paul Po we r ; B rendan Peterson

10 OpinionYouth media exists as a recognizable movement— all it needs is a little (more) support.

by N orman C owie

13 Wired Blue YonderMiramax and Lions Gate go the online streaming route; a new online festival application service.

by T amara K ri ns ky ; Daniel S t ei nh art

16 ProfilesMadison Davis Lacy’s Free to D a n ce; Chris Roe’s Pop & M e.

by D eirdre T o w e r s ;Ed Eberle

Departments29 TechnologyEducators sound off on the benefits of iMovie for their students.

by M ike Hazard

64 On ViewIndependent projects opening or airing this month.

by Daniel S t e inh ar t

9

13

38

36

53

FAQ & Info36 Distributor FAQOne of a kind, NoodleHead Network is dedicated to distributing works by kids.

by L issa G ibbs

38 Funder FAQThe O SI’s Youth Media Program has been one of the key funders behind initiatives of all shapes and sizes.

by M ichelle C oe

40 Festivals

45 Notices

49 Classifieds

@AIVF52 Salon Spotlight

Reports from Portland, Oregon; Atlanta, Georgia; South Florida; and Los Angeles; plus a word from AIVF’s executive director.

by E lizabeth Pe t e r s ; L aT rICE D i x o n ; BETH H a r r i n g t o n ; Mark Wy n n s ; D ominic G i a n n e t t i ; M ichael Masucci

59 AIVF Events

62 M em ber Benefits & Trade Discounts

Cover: Yolanda Ross as Treasure, in Cheryl Dunye's prison dram a, S t r a n g e r I n s id e . Photo: Nicola Goode, courtesy H B O .

June 2 001 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

J U L Y 2 0 0 1 A P u b l ic a t io n o f T h e F o u n d a t io n f o r In d e p e n d e n t V id e o a n d F i lm w w w .a iv f .o r gEXPERIMENTALMEDIA SPOTLIGHT


A th in a R achel Tsangari’sSPACEO D Y S S E Y

THE UNSEEN AVANT-GARDE

SAN FRANCISCO CINEM ATHEQUE TURNS 40

DIY DVDS

S4.95 us S6.95 tan

http://www.aivf.org

the independent FILM S & VIDEO MONTHLY



Editor: Beth Pinskerlb e th @ a iv f.o r g ]

M anaging Editor: Paul Power[in d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f.o rg ]

Assistant Editor: Scott Castle[fe s tiv a ls @ a iv f.o r g ]



Design Director: Daniel Christm asls ta r tre e @ s p e e d site .c o m ]

A dvertising Director: Laura D. Davis(212 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x. 22 5; ld is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o rg ]

Advertising Rep: Bob Hebert[b o b @ a iv f.o r g ]

•



The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson S t, 6 ft , NY, NY 10013.

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the advancement of media arts and artists. Subscription to the magazine is included in annual membership dues ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student $100/yr nonprofii/school; $150/yr business/ industry) paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact: A M ; 304 Hudson S I, 6 f t , NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax; (212) 463-8519; independent@ aivf.org; wvwv.aivf.org Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. Printed in the USA by Cadmus Journal Services.


Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad. Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article’s previous appearance in The Independent. The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index and is a member of the Independent Press Association.


AIVF/FIVF staff: Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Alexander Spencer, deputy director; Michelle Coe, program director; Paul Marchairt, membership coordinator; James Israel, information services associate; Bo Mehrad, information services assistant; Greg Gilpatrick & Joshua Sanchez, web consultants; Anne Hubbell, development associate; Nikki Byrd, Rani Soppa, interns; AIVF/FIVF legal counsel: Robert I. Freedman, Esq. Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard.


AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Angela Alston (secretary), Doug Block, Paul Espinosa (treasurer), Dee Dee Halleck, Vivian Kleiman, Jim McKay (co-chair), Robb Moss (president), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), James Schamus*, Valerie Soe (vice president), Ellen Spiro, Bart Weiss (co-chair), Debra Zimmerman*.*FIVF Board of Directors only.

CONTENTS

July 2001VOLUM I 24, NUMBER 6 www.aivf.org

EXPERIMENTAL FOCUS

28 Space OdysseyAthina Rachel Tsangari’s T h e Slow B usiness o f G oin g imagines the nomadic, lifestyle of futureworld travelers..

by, S pencer ParJ

32 Seeing is BelievingThe Whitney’s Unseen Cinema exhibition throws a whole new light on the early avant-garde in America.

by S teve A nderson

36 Fade to BlackThe Guggenheim grapples with the preservation of ephemeral media.

by Patri ck C i ccone ■

37 Micro ManagerA 10-point list of helpful hints for setting up a microcinema.

by B rian F rye

38 San Francisco GiantSince its beginnings 40 years ago in Bruce Baillie’s backyard, the San Francisco Cinematheque has become part of the bedrock of the experimental media scene.

by M i chael Fox38

THE I NDEPENDENT July 2001








http://www.aivf.org

http://www.aivf.org


6 Letters

7 NewsOberhausen shorts air on German MTV; TLA launches DVD/video wing; developments in super 8 blow-up.

by Margare t C h a b o w s k i ; S c ot t C a s t l e ; Paul Power

13 OpinionTransferring old videos or DV? A case is made for film as the best preservation format.

by A lfred G abriel N igrin

14 Wired Blue YonderCamille Utterback and Romy Achituv’s interactive video installation Text R ain; a virtual buying club for independents; Panasonic becomes artists’ ally in Times Square; online sound effects.

by S tephen B rophy ; Paul Po w e r , Daniel S t ei nh a rt

18 ProfilesMonteith McCollum’s H ybrid; Lee Boot’s M a k in g E uphoria; Liz Keim of the San Francisco Exploratorium.

by Pat ri ci a T h o m s o n ; A nn H orn a da y ;A dam E i senberg

21 Festival CircuitThe Los Angeles Film Festival reaches out; the Ann Arbor Film Festival gets animated.

by Robert It o ;S arah J ane L app

49

7

16

13

!4

2146

52

Departments42 TechnologyLow-cost DVD production tools make creating your own DVDs affordable and do-able.

by G reg G i lpatrick

44 BooksA timely reissue of T h e Film C u lture R eader, a touchstone for the New American Cinema of the sixties.

by B elinda B aldwin

FAQ & Info46 Distributor FAQThe Canadian Filmmakers’ Distribution Centre is a prime disseminator of experimental, gay, and lesbian titles from around the world.

by L i ssa G ibbs

49 Funder FAQThe Flintridge Foundation has supported experimental and interdisciplinary mediamakers for over 15 years.

by M ichelle C oe


@AIVF60 Events 62 Salons 64 In & Out of

Production

COVER: Lizzie M artinez in flthina Rachel Tsangari’s The S lo w B u s in e s s o f G oing. Courtesy film m aker

July 2001 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2001 A Publication of The Foundation for independent Video and Film www.aivf.org

GETTING REAL WITH HBO'S SHEILA NEVINSthel ndependenf

WHAT'S

W R O N G

W I T H

T H ISP I C T U R EThe Believer won Sundance but isn't c o m i n g soon to a theater near you.

:

http://www.aivf.org



Editor in Chief: Beth Pinskerlb e t h @ a iv f .org]

Managing Editor: Paul Power[in d e p e n d e n t@ a iv f.o rg ]

Assistant Editor: Scott Castle lfestivals@ aivf.org]

Interns: Macauley Peterson, Dan Steinhart

C ontributing Editors: Richard Baimbridge, Lissa Gibbs,Cara Mertes, Robert L. Seigel, E s q , Patricia Thomson

Design Director: Daniel Christmas [[email protected]]

Advertising Director Laura D. Davis(212) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x. 225; [d is p la y a d s @ a iv f.org]

Advertising Rep. Bob Hebert lbob@ aivf.org]

•


POSTMASTER: Send address changes toThe Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., 6 ft , NY, NY 10013.

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the advancement of media arts and artists. Subscription to the magazine is included in annual membership duels ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student; $100/yr nonprofit/school; $150/yr business/ industry) paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video Library subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact.- AIVF 304 Hudson St, 6 ft , NY, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 463-8519; independent@ aivf.org; www.aivforg Periodical Postage Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. Printed in the USA by Cadmus Journal Services.

Publication of The Independent is made possible in part with pub, He funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency,


Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement. AIVF/FIVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad. Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the' article's previous appearance in The Independent The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index and is a member of the Independent Press Association.


AIVF/FIVF staff: Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Alexander Spencer, deputy director; Michelle Coe, program director; Paul Marchant, membership coordinator,- James Israel, information services associate; Bo Mehrad, information services assistant; Greg Gilpatrick & Joshua Sanchez, web consultants; Nikki Byrd, Jennifer Sullivan, Shumin Ma, interns; AIVF/FIVF legal counsel: Robert I. Freedman, Esq. Cowan, OeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard.

Visit The Independent online at: www.aivf org

AIVF/FIVF Board of Oirectors. Angela Alston (secretary), Doug Block, Paul Espinosa (treasurer), Dee Dee Halleck, Vivian Kleiman, Jim McKay (co-chair), Robb Moss (president), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), James Schamus*, Valerie Soe (vice president), Ellen Spiro, Bart Weiss (co-chair), Debra Zimmerman*.*FIVF Board of Oirectors only.

CONTENTS

August/Sepcember 2001VOLUME 24, NUMBER 7 www.aivf.org

36 The Contrary SonWhile critics and audiencs complain about a dearth of quality films, the

provocative Sundance awarding-winning film T h e B eliever has proven too contro

versial to secure theatrical distribution.

by Beth Pinsker

36Features

28 Director TVWith H om icide off the air, shows like T h e Sopranos and T h e West W ing have continued the practice of offering helming gigs to independent directors.

by T amara K rinsky

29 Docu-Drama QueenSyndicated daytime talk show host Jenny Jones has been inviting independent documentary filmmakers to be her guests.

by Martha Keavney

31 The Cable Channel That Ate My Shorts!The Sci-Fi Channel is not only funding a series of shorts by unknown filmmakers, but is airing them as well.

BY E ly E berle

32 Sheila’s Gotta Have ItWith Sheila Nevms and her eye for provactive programming, HBO has turned independent documentaries into destination television.

by Patri ci a T homson

28

37

THE I NDEPENDENT August/September 2001



http://www.aivforg

http://www.aivf


7 NewsBill Ivey resigns as NEA chairman; Sally Jo Fifer is the new head of ITVS; the guild strikes that never were; briefs.

by M ichael Fo x ; B ob C onnelly ; BethPINSKER

13 OpinionWhat do film festivals spend your hard-earned entry fee dollars on anyway?

by Katie C oki nos

15 Festival CircuitThe American presence at Cannes; the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.

by Barbara S c h a r r e s ; Harri ette Yahr

25 On ViewIndependent projects opening in theaters or airing on television this month.

by Daniel S t ei nh art

26 ProfilesTodd Downing’s Jeffr ey ’s H ollyw ood S creen Trick; Alex MacKenzie and The Blinding Light!! Cinema.

by A aron K r a c h ; W ill L eitch

Departments40 Wired Blue YonderStoryview offers screenwriters a new way to structure their scripts; TealPaint offers high- tech storyhoarding tools at bargain prices.

by Robert G o o d m a n ; B eth Pinsker

H Y P N O T I C11

13

27

44 |

25

42

FAQ & Info42 Distributor FAQPorchLight Entertainment produces and distributes films that promote positive values and family-friendly entertainment.

by L issa G ibbs

44 Funder FAQFilm/Video Arts offers metor- ships and fiscal administration opportunities to its 1,200 members.

by M ichelle C oe


@ A IV F 60 Events 63 Salons

Cover: Ryan Gosling in Henry Bean’s The B e lie v e r .Photo: Liz Hedges, Fireworks Pictures

August /September 2 001 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

October 2001 AA Publication of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film www.aivf.org

documentaryissuethe lndependentFILM&VlDEO MONTHLY

BEINGTHERENOW!

A ROUNDTABLE ON ACCESS

ALSO:RACE IN TEXAS BAY AREA SPOTLIGHT$4.95 us $6.95 ton



Editor in Chief: Beth Pinsker[ b e th @ a iv f .org]

Managing Editor: Farrin Jacobslja c o b s @ a iv f .org]

Assistant Editor: Scott Castlel f e s t iv a ls @ a iv f .org]

Intern: Macauley C.S. Peterson

C ontributing Editors: Richard Baimbridge, Lissa Gibbs,Cara Mertes, Robert L. Seigel, Esq., Patricia Thomson

Design Director: Daniel Christm as[s ta rtre e @ s p e e d s ite .com]

Advertising Director: Laura D. Davis(212 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x. 2 2 5 : [d is p la y a d s @ a iv f.org]

Advertising Rep. Bob Hebert [b o b @ a iv f .org]

•


POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson St., 6 ft . NY, NY 10013.

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the advancement of media arts and artists. Subscription to the magazine is included in annual membership flues ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student; $100/yr nonprofit/school; $150/yr business/ industry) paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF) the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact. AIVF 304 Hudson St, 6 fl„ NY, NY 1-0013, (212) 807-1400; fax: (212) 463-8519; independent@ aivf.org; www.aivf.org Periodical Pcstagt Paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. Punted in the USA by Cadmus Journal Services.

Publication of The Independent is made possible in part with pub- l i C funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency,and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement. AIVF/FiVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad. Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent The A Publication of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film is indexed in the Alternative Press Index and is a member of the Independent Press Association.

© Foundation for Independent Video & Film, Inc 2001

AIVF/FIVF staff: Elizabeth Peters, executive director; Alexander Spencer, deputy director; Michelle Coe, program director; Paul Marchant, membership director James Israel, Bo Mehrad, information services associates; Greg Gilpatnck, Joshua Sanchez, web consultants; Sridevi Palanivelu, Oeanna McIntyre, interms; AIVF/FIVF legal counsel: Robert I. Freedman, Esq. Cowan, OeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard.


AIVF/FIVF Board of Directors: Angela Alston (secretary), Doug Block (membership chair), Paul Espinosa (treasurer), Dee Dee Halleck, Vivian Kieiman (advocacy chair). Jim McKay (co-chair; development chair) Robb Moss (president), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), James Schamus*, Valerie Soe (vice president), Ellen Spiro, Bart Weiss (cochair), Debra Zimmerman*.F IV F Board of Directors only.

C O N T E N T SOctober 2001VOLUME 24, NUMBER 8

LIV EFeatures28 The Inside StoryA discussion on verite filmmaking with Joe Berlinger, R.J. Cutler, Gillian Grisman, Chris Hegedus, Errol Morris, Jehane Noujaim, and Frederick Wiseman.

by B eth Pinsker

32 Live at 11 from CharlotteDavid Van Taylor spent 10 months following news crews trying to find out what makes the hearts of reporters heat.


36 Murder in Black and WhiteTvo filmmakers— one black and one white— see what difference race makes in Two Towns o f ja sp er.

by Paul Power

36

TH-E I NDEPENDENT October 2001


http://www.aivf.org

http://www.aivf.org

Upfront5 NewsMacArthur cuts off MAC funding; PBS changes its schedule; briefs. by Pat A u f d e r h e i d e ; P ete r D e b r u g e

13 OpinionWhy does anyone agree to be a documentary subject/ by J o n a t h a n S t a c k

14 Festival CircuitPitching at the Toronto Documentary Forum; DoubleTake gets bigger; a filmmaker’s tale of Finland. by Pa u l Po w e r ; C l ai re C u s i c k ; D e mps ey R ice

21 On ViewProjects opening or airing on television this month.BY M a CAUL EY C . S .P e t e r s o n

22 ProfilesStephen Frears longs for the old-time BBC; Jeff Probst the indie director, not ‘Survivor guy.’ by B eth P i n s k e r ; F a r r i n J a c o b s

25 Distributor FAQMeet the National Asian American Telecommunications Association. by L i s s a G i bbs

27 Field Report:The Bay Area

Community arts organizations band together; a look at the financial inequalities of Silicon Valley. Plus: Filmmakers’ favorite Bay Area resources. by D a n i e l S t e i n h a r t

5

1 3

Departments38 LegalFiguring out the rules of public domain is not as easy as most filmmakers think. by R o b e r t L. S ei gel

40 Wired Blue YonderDo-it-yourself closed captioning with CCaption. by R o b e r t G o o d m a n


@AIVF58 Events 63 Salons63 In Production

64 RushesIn this first installment of a new series following a filmmaker through the completion of a work,Rodney Evans works on his script and thinks about casting his first feature. by B eth P i n s k e r

Cover.- J e r r y G a r c ia ( r ig h t ) a n d D a v id

G r is m a n g iv in g a n im p r o m p t u o u t

d o o r c o n c e r t in G rateful Dawg.

PHOTO: SUSANA MILLMAN/SONY PICTURES CLASSICS

Octolvr 2 001 T H E I N D E P E N D E N T

NOVEM BER 2001 A P ublication o f The F oun dation f o r indep en d en t v ideo and F ilm w w w .aivf.o rg

the independentF I L M & V I D E O M O N T H L Y

A F I N EMESS

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AFILM CREW TAKES OVER YOUR HOME

ALSO:FESTIVA STRATEGIES A NEW MEKAS OPUS MOVIES AFTER SEPT. 11

S4.95 us $6.95 can

http://www.aivLorg

the IndependentFILMS. VIDEO MONTHLY

9

Publisher; Elizabeth Peters

Editor in Chief; Beth Pinskerlb e t h @ a iv f .org]

Managing Editor; Farrin Jacobslja c o b s @ a iv f .org]

A ssistant Editor; Scott Castlels c o tt @ a iv f .org]

Intern: Jason Guerrasio

C ontributing Editors: Richard Baimbridge, Lissa Gibbs,Cara Mertes, Robert L. Seigel, Esq., Patricia Thomson

Design Director: Daniel Christmasls ta r tre e @ s p e e d s ite .com]

Advertising Director; Laura D, Davis(212 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x, 225, Id is p la y a d s @ a iv f.org]

•

National D istribution;Ingram Periodicals (800) 6 2 7-6 24 7

POSTMASTER. Send address changes to;

The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 3D4 Hudson St,, 6 f t , NY, NY 10013.

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN D731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the advancement of media arts and artists. Subscription to the magazine is included in annual membership dues ($55/yr individual, $35/yr student, $100/yr nonprofit/school; $150/y r business/ Industry) paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in independent film and video. Library subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact; AIVF 304 Hudson St, 6 fh, New York, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400; fax; (212) 463-8519, [email protected]; Periodical Postage paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. Printed in the USA by Cadmus Journal Services,


Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement AIVF/FIVF'are not responsible for any claims made in an ad. Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent The Independent is indexed in the Alternative Press Index and is a member of the Independent Press Association,


AIVF/FIVF staff; Elizabeth Peters, executive director, Alexander Spencer, deputy director, Michelle Coe, program director, Paul Marchant, membership director, James Israel,Bo Mehrad, information services associates; Greg Gilpatrick, Joshua Sanchez, web consultants; Deanna McIntyre, interms; AIVF/FIVF legal counsel Robert I, Freedman, Esq. Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard.

Visit The Independent online at; www.aivf.org

AIVF/FIVF Boards of Directors; Angela Alston (secretary), Doug Block (membership chair), Paul Espinosa (treasurer), Dee Dee Halleck, Vivian Kleiman (advocacy chair), Jim McKay (co-chair; development chair), Robb Moss (president), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), James Schamus*, Valerie Soe (vice president), Ellen Spiro, Bart Weiss (co-chair), Debra Zimmerman*.*FIVF Board of Directors only.

CONTENTS

3

Features

26

26 Diaries of a Serial Film erAt 78, Jonas Mekas might just have made his breakthrough film— a five-hour exploration of his life.

by Marla L ehner

28 Appeasing the Festival GodsTen filmmakers share their strategies for getting their films into festivals. Plus:What to expect when you're accepted, a guide to avoiding festival traps.

by B eth Pi n s k e r ; Kyle H enry-

32 W inter of My House’s DiscontentBanished to the attic while his wife filmed a low-budget feature in their house, a man shares his tale of woe.

by G eorge F ifield

THE I NDEPENDENT November 2001


http://www.aivf.org

Upfront5 Editor’s Note 7 NewsFilmmaking is changed by the events of September 11; New York media arts groups respond to the attacks; Film/Video Arts takes a turn; briefs.

by B eth P i n s k e r ; Elizabeth Pe t e r s ; Farrin J acobs

13 OpinionWhy independent distribution companies keep popping up.

by Mark U rman

15 Festival CircuitThe economy trims SIGGRAPH; dreary weather can’t stop Edinburgh from celebrating film.

by C hris T o m e ;D arren Mc D onald

20 On ViewProjects opening or airing on television this month.

by J aso n G uerrasi o

22 ProfilesMilt Thomas makes a silent film the old-fashioned way; John Langley evolves the C ops ethos into a cable channel.

by Felicia Fe a s t e r ; S c ot t C a st le

25 Field Report: Portland

Local filmmakers go it alone on the distribution and exhibition front, while Oregon tries to rise from dead last on arts spending with a new trust fund. Plus: Portland filmmakers and their new projects.

by D. K. H olm

7

13

1825

Departments36 LegalPublic domain rules get tricky when you’re dealing with

reinterpreted work.by R obert L . S eigel

39 Wired Blue Yonder 3-D animation for

independents.by G reg G ilpatrick


@ A IV F 60 Events 62 Salons

64 RushesIn the second installment of T h e In d e p e n d e n t’s series following a filmmaker, Rodney Evans interviews actors for

B rother to B rother.

by B eth P insker

Cover: Tony Shalhoub and Lynne Adams

compare notes on M ad e-U p .

PHOTO.' CLAIRE FOLGER

November 2001 THE I NDEPENDENT

DECEMBER 2001 A Publication of The Foundation for Independent Video and Film www.oivf.org

chicagofield reportthe Independent


THEdo-it-yourself

BLOCKBUSTERA TEXAS 3 -D SH O P TAKES O N DISNEY

A L S O :PBS M ER G ER S T O R O N T O ’S W A V E L E N G TH S P R O T E C T Y O U R B Y TE S

$4.95 us $6.95 can

http://www.oivf.org

the independent'FILM & VIDEO MONTHLY


Editor in Chief- Beth Pi nsker lb eth@ aivf.org]

Managing Editor Farrln Jacobs[ja c o b s @ a iv f.o r g !

Intern: Jason Guerrasio

C ontributing Editors- Richard Baimbridge, Lissa Gibbs, Robert Goodman, Cara Mertes, Robert L. Seigel, E s q ,

Patricia Thomson

Design Director Daniel Christm as[s ta rfre e @ sp e e d site com]

Advertising Director- Laura D Davis(212 ) 8 0 7 -1 4 0 0 x. 22 5; ld is p la y a d s @ a iv f.o rg ]

•


•


The Independent Film & Video Monthly, 304 Hudson S t, 6 f l , NY, NY 10013

The Independent Film & Video Monthly (ISSN 0731-5198) is published monthly except February and September by the Foundation for Independent Video and Film (FIVF), a tax-exempt educational foundation dedicated to the advancement of media arts and artists. Subscription to the magazine is included in annual membership dues ($55/yr individual; $35/yr student; $100/yr nonprofil/school; $150/yr business/ industry) paid to the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), the national trade association of individuals involved in Independent film and video. Library subscriptions are $75/yr. Contact: AIVF 304 Hudson St, 6 f l , New York, NY 10013, (212) 807-1400, fax: (212) 4638519; [email protected]. Periodical Postage paid at New York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. Printed In the USA by Cadmus Journal Services.

Publication of The Independent is made possible in part-with pub- n u lie funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency,


Publication of any advertisement in The Independent does not constitute an endorsement. AIVF/RVF are not responsible for any claims made in an ad. Letters to The Independent should be addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length. All contents are copyright of the Foundation for Independent Video and Film, Inc. Reprints require written permission and acknowledgement of the article's previous appearance in The Independent The Independent Is indexed In the Alternative Press Index and is a member of the Independent Press Association

AIVF/FIVF staff- Elizabeth Peters, executive director, Alexander Spencer, deputy director, Michelle Coe, program director, Paul Marchant, membership director; James Israel, Bo Mehrad, information services associates; Greg Gilpatrick, Joshua Sanchez, web consultants, Leslie Adkins-Garza, Deanna McIntyre, interns, AIVF/FIVF legal counsel Robert I Freedman, Esq Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard

AIVF/RVF Boards of Directors: Angela Alston (secretary), Doug Block (membership chair), Paul Espinosa (treasurer), Dee Dee Halleck, Vivian Kleiman (advocacy chair), Jim McKay (co-chair; development chair), Robb Moss (president), Elizabeth Peters (ex officio), James Schamus*, Valerie Soe (vice president), Ellen Spiro, Bart Weiss (co-chair), Debra Zimmerman*. *FIVF Board of Directors only.

© Foundation for Independent Video A Film, Inc. 2001 Visit The Independent online at: www.aivf.oig

CONTENTS

VOLUME 24, NUMBER 10 www.aivf.org

Features28

26 The Next New Thing ...th e Year AfterPlucked out of obscurity to star on the festival circuit, Blaine Thurier reflects a year later.

by S arah K eenlyside

28 Texas Toon TimeAn independent animation company aims for the big time with a holiday cartoon from Nickelodeon.

by D enise G etson

32 13 + 21 = ?Mergers like the one taking place between New York PBS stations W NET and WLIW might signal the way of the future.

by S helley G abert

35 Getting a Share of the AirAn independent’s guide to how to keep the telecommunications pipeline open to all.by J eff C hester and G ary O. L arson

26

THE I NDEPENDENT December 2001




http://www.aivf.oig

http://www.aivf.org

Upfront5 Editor’s Note6 NewsThe search for international documentaries revs up; Eidia House’s NEA Tapes; briefs.

by Beth P i n s k e r ; R ichard baimbridge

13 OpinionWhy is intergenerational romance in gay films such a big deal?

by J ames B olton

15 Festival CircuitToronto’s new avant-garde program; the IFP Market gets with the times.

by B eth P insker

21 On ViewProjects opening in theaters or airing on television this month.

by J ason G uerrasi o

22 ProfilesDo-it-yourself media entrepreneur David Wilson tours the U.S.; Sherman Alexie tries to make a film like poetry.

by Robert L. C a g l e ; S alem

25 Field Report: Chicago HD

Students take on HD video to spark Chicago’s digital scene, while Fletcher of Chicago plays HD missionary. Plus: H oop D ream s director Peter Gilbert on the joys of 24p.

by N adine E krek

6

23

25

43

Departments38 LegalProtecting your copyright in the evolving digital world.

by Robert L. S eigel

41 Wired Blue YonderThe AFI’s summit to help artists make use of streaming media.

by Robin O ppenheimer

43 BoohsT h e Video A ctivist H a n d b o o k ; D igital B a bylon: H ollyw ood,Indiew ood a nd D ogm e 95; and A m erica n In d ep en d en t C in em a : A Sight a n d S o u n d R eader.

by E lizabeth Pe t e r s ; B elinda Ba l d w i n ; Farrin J acob s

FAQ & Info45 Festivals 52 Notices 57 Classifieds

@AIVF61 Events63 Salons

64 RushesIn the third installment of T h e Ind epen d en t's series, Rodney Evans hustles into preproduction on B rother to Brother.

by B eth P insker

C O V E R

Jimmy Neutron c o u ld m a k e

D N A P r o d u c t io n s a s b ig a s P ix a r .

PHOTO COURTESY NirKELOOFON MOVIES ANO PARAMOUNT PICTURES

December 2001 THE INDEPENDENT

film & video monthly $3.00 - Independent Magazine

Documents

Transcript of film & video monthly $3.00 - Independent Magazine