Austria

Nothing gives one new perspective and creative energy like traveling to another country, another culture. I'm in Austria for a televison shoot for the Outdoor Guide featuring the Innsbruk company Swarovski Optik. They make precision optics like binoculars.

The people here have made us indredibly welcome. The sights and sounds are inspiring.

We spent two days deep in the mountains about a half hour out of Innsbruck (means bridge over the Inns River) and my legs hurt like they have never hurt before.

I have not been able to get my wi-fi to work at the hotel, so I'm using the hotel computer. The keyboard layout is most challenging. Mostly the Y and Z keys are backwards! But, it is all taken with the spirit of discovery.

I have been soaking it all in, ready to let it all out on my return.

For now, check out some of what I've experienced:

Swarovski Optik
Swarovski Crystal World
Our hotel
my favorite eatery so far

Todd Roberts
Speckbacher Hof
Gnadenwald, Austria

Final Cut Pro HDV Hope

The word from the IBC convention in Amsterdam is that Final Cut Pro 5.1.2 will support the JVC HDV 24P and Canon HDV 24F formats sometime in October. This will eliminate cumberson work-arounds for FCP users.

Friends at DV info are on the story.

DV Info photo #1 ( dvinfo.net )
DV Info photo #2 ( dvinfo.net )

Todd Roberts
Keystone Lake

Netflix Indie Distribution

An interesting Wired article about Netflix's indie distribution efforts.

Link to Wired Article

Big Brother or Protection?

The U.S. Senate on Thursday approved legislation setting up a national registry for sex offenders that includes a new record-keeping requirement for Hollywood movies that have steamy love scenes. On a unanimous voice vote, the Senate approved the Adam Walsh Act setting up the registry and including a provision that would require Hollywood studios to ensure that they keep records of the ages of the actors who pretend to have sex in motion pictures and TV shows.

Link to Yahoo News Story

My Evening with Tonya York

On April 18th, 2006 the University of Oklahoma hosted a discussion with Tanya York of York Entertainment. The discussion was part of the Independent Film Project hosted by Shawnee Brittan.



My notes:

- York focuses on three genres - horror, action and urban. York defines "urban" as any genre for a mostly African-American audience

- York gets 100 - 150 finished films submitted to them a month

- York acquires 30 - 50 films a year

- York also makes up to six films a year with budgets from $250K to $600K, shot on 35mm film with at least one name "star" in a major role (not just a cameo)

- Because of thier daily knowledge of buyer's needs, they can quickly make a film to fill the need. They can turn one of their productions around in about two months.

- York does not accept screenplay submissions

- Foreign buyers want movies shot on 35mm. Tanya York claims that it doesn't cost any more to shoot on Super16 than 35mm.

- Tonya York expressed the opinion that the MPAA is a "racist organization" that has no rules and changes on whims.

My comments:
Tonya York and York Entertainment have been much maligned online within independent filmmaking communities. Filmmakers have claimed they have received little or no advance money and no profits are ever returned on sales. While this is not uncommon for indie films, there seems to be stronger feelings against York than other distributors. After listening to Ms. York for two hours, I feel I have come to understand better where she and her company are coming from.

One Tanya York statement put it in perspective for me. When Ms. York was talking about contracts and dealing with filmmakers, she said "Here's our offer. Take it or leave it." As a business person, there is nothing wrong with this attitude. But what makes it possible for York to opperate like this is the sheer volume of films that are submitted. "We get one hundred to one hundred and fifty films submitted a month." York had said earlier.

It's up to filmmakers to take responsibility for the content of contracts and to research distributor reputations. Entertainment attorney, Mark Litwak has a Filmmaker Self-Defense Checklist on his web site. Here's a quote:

"The best contract in the world can only protect you so much against a scoundrel. Thoroughly check out any party you contemplate doing business with. For distributors call other filmmakers who have worked with them. People who have lousy reputations have earned them."

Todd Roberts
Keystone Lake

First Intel Processors, Now Windows

Apple has released a public beta of Boot Camp, software to run Windows XP on a Mac.

From Apple's site:
"More and more people are buying and loving Macs. To make this choice simply irresistible, Apple will include technology in the next major release of Mac OS X, Leopard, that lets you install and run the Windows XP operating system on your Mac. Called Boot Camp (for now), you can download a public beta today.

As elegant as it gets
Boot Camp lets you install Windows XP without moving your Mac data, though you will need to bring your own copy to the table, as Apple Computer does not sell or support Microsoft Windows.(1) Boot Camp will burn a CD of all the required drivers for Windows so you don't have to scrounge around the Internet looking for them.

Run XP natively
Once you’ve completed Boot Camp, simply hold down the option key at startup to choose between Mac OS X and Windows. (That’s the “alt” key for you longtime Windows users.) After starting up, your Mac runs Windows completely natively. Simply restart to come back to Mac."

Link to Apple's Bootcamp

Todd Roberts
Keystone Lake

K.I.S.S. Your Rebate

Many states offer tax exemptions or rebates to attract film production to their state. Often, these can be really difficult to understand. The Tucson Film Office has created a simple overview page and a calculator for estimating a rebate. Enter the amount of your production expenses spent in Arizona and it automatically calculates your estimated sales tax savings and estimated rebate.

Certainly this is not all one needs to know about the Arizona programs, but it is enough to entice me to want to learn more. Great job Tucson Film Office.


Link to Tucson Film Office

BTW K.I.S.S. = Keep It Simple Stupid